Resolution 2001-9

Resolution 2001-9
Proposed Resolution on interactions between whales
and fish stocks
WHEREAS it is the purpose of the International Whaling Commission to provide for the effective conservation and
management of whale stocks;
WHEREAS the IWC is the universally recognized international organization with competence for the management
of whale stocks;
ACKNOWLEDGING that better understanding of marine ecosystems, including interactions between whales and
fish stocks, would contribute to the conservation and management of living marine resources and is of interest to
nations as well as to regional fisheries management organizations and international research organizations;
NOTING that the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, during its 120th session,
recommended that ecosystem-based fisheries management studies to be conducted by the FAO, as agreed in
paragraph 39 of the report of the 24th session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries, should be balanced and holistic in
approach;
WELCOMING the Scientific Committee’s recommendations to conduct a workshop on interactions between whales
and fish stocks, to be held intersessionally between the 53rd and 54th annual meetings of the Commission;
RECOGNIZING that, in order to effectively address the issue of interaction between whales and fish stocks, the
planning and conduct of the workshop requires experts on modeling and data sets and should therefore include
coordination with other organizations that have expertise, experience, and interest in this matter, and the participation
of experts from such organizations, as well as those specifically recommended by the Scientific Committee;
NOW THEREFORE THE COMMISSION:
GIVES notice that, as the competent international organization for the conservation and management of whale
stocks, it has decided to make the study of interactions between whale and fish stocks a matter of priority;
AGREES that any studies conducted by the FAO on ecosystem-based fisheries management be holistic and balanced
in approach;
ENDORSES the recommendations of the Scientific Committee concerning the workshop on interactions between
whales and fish stocks;
REQUESTS the Secretary to forward a copy of this resolution and relevant portions of the report of the Scientific
Committee to the Assistant Director-General of the Fisheries Department of the FAO and to the Chair of the FAO
Committee on Fisheries, seeking their cooperation in the organization and conduct of the workshop;
FURTHER requests the Secretary to forward a copy of this resolution and relevant portions of the report of the
Scientific Committee to regional fisheries management organizations, international research organizations, and other
appropriate organizations in consultation with Chair of the Scientific Committee.