Resolution on Whaling

WHEREAS, the American Society of Mammalogists has, at its annual meetings beginning in 1965, passed eight resolutions directed toward the conservation of whales; and

WHEREAS, three of these resolutions were specifically addressed to the attention of the International Whaling Commission; and

WHEREAS, the IWC has failed to instigate all of the conditions necessary to conserve whales in spite of the deplorable condition of many whale stocks that have come about because the IWC failed to insist on proper regulation of whaling;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Society of Mammalogists again urges the IWC to immediately abolish the Blue Whale Unit completely and regulate the take of whales according to species and based on the findings of the Scientific Committee;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Member Governments of the IWC immediately implement the International observer scheme;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IWC limit the catch of whales to a figure below the estimated average sustainable yield of the population of each species rather than to the upper estimates, as has been the policy until now, so that whale stocks can recover to the point of maximum productivity.