Resolution 1997-6

WHEREAS Article VIII of the Convention provides for the issuing by Contracting Governments of a special permit for scientific research;
WHEREAS the Commission requested Japan to refrain from issuing a special permit to take minke whales in the North Pacific; and recommended that scientific research intended to assist the comprehensive assessment of whale stocks and the implementation of the Revised Management Procedure shall be undertaken by non-lethal means; and recommended that scientific research involving the killing of cetaceans should only be permitted where critically important research needs are addressed which cannot be answered by analysing existing data and/or use of non-lethal techniques; furthermore requested the Government of Japan to reconsider and restructure its research programmes so that the research objectives are achieved by non-lethal means (IWC Resolutions 1995-9 and 1996-7);
WHEREAS the Government of Japan nevertheless continues to issue a special permit involving the killing of minke whales in the North Pacific;
NOW THEREFORE THE COMMISSION
AFFIRMS that the proposal for a special permit in the North Pacific does not address critically important issues which cannot be answered by the analysis of existing data and/or use of non-lethal techniques as established under IWC Resolution 1995-9;
REITERATES ITS REQUEST that the Government of Japan, in the exercise of its sovereign rights, refrain from issuing any further special permit for the take of minke whales in the North Pacific;
REITERATES ITS REQUEST that the Government of Japan reconsider and restructure its research programmes so that research objectives are achieved by the use of non-lethal techniques.