IWMC.org - 2nd Symposium - Aquatic Resources

Aspects of Regional Management: Science, Sustainable Use and Conservation of Marine Mammals in the North Atlantic Dr. Grete Hovelsrud-Broda, Ph.D. General Secretary NAMMCO

Greenland
Marine mammals remain important to the Greenlandic diet, the culture and the economy. Marine mammals are hunted throughout the year, with seasonal variation determining the species being targeted. Marine mammal hunting is steeped in tradition - and goes back to a time when the first Eskimos came to Greenland thousands of years ago. Greenlandic hunters combine traditional hunting methods and practices with imported technology and with following the restrictions of contemporary government regulations. It is not unusual to see a Greenlandic hunter in a qayaq equipped with a traditional harpoon and a rifle, or Greenlandic hunters in motor powered vessels equipped with imported harpoon canons. Greenlanders operate in a mixed cash/subsistence economy, drawing on both traditional and contemporary methods of harvesting and processing. Access to international markets for their marine mammal products, in particular sealskins, is imperative for the sustainability of some communities.

Iceland
Iceland stopped whaling in 1986 as a result of IWC’s moratorium on commercial whaling, and continued for a few years with scientific whaling. In the years prior to the moratorium, Iceland hunted mainly fin whales, but also sei, sperm, and minke whales from vessels equipped with 90-mm and 50-mm harpoon canons. Whaling may resume in Iceland in the near future, after the Icelandic Althingi in March 1999 voted to re-open whaling in Iceland. Both minke whales and fin whales may be hunted upon the resumption of whaling.

In Iceland, farmers have the right to hunt seals within the boundaries of their properties. Seal hunting methods currently include clubs, nets and rifles. Weaned pups are the main targets for hunters. The seals are hunted mostly for their pelts but also for their meat.

Norway
Currently only minke whales are hunted along the Norwegian coast, from small fishing boats (between 15 and 40 meters long). In 2000 the quota was for a total of 655 whales. The whale hunt takes place between May and July every year, and because the whaleboats are small whale hunting can take place only in reasonably good weather. The hunters usually combine whaling and fishing activities on a seasonal basis. Many of the coastal communities in Norway are dependent upon the whales for jobs and income, both from hunting and employment opportunities at the processing plants.

Sealing for hooded and harp seals takes place between March and May every year. The sealers travel to the ice edge of the West- and the East- ice aboard sealing vessels that are between 44 and 57 metres long. Once in the ice smaller boats are lowered allowing the hunters to get close to seals lying around on ice floes. Most of the sealers in Norway combine this type of livelihood with fishing, farming or other activities. Like whaling, sealing is an important part of many coastal communities in Norway, both in cultural and economic terms.

NAMMCO: Species and Stocks Examples of Management

There are a number of marine mammal stocks that are actively harvested by NAMMCO member countries. The North Atlantic Ocean is divided into stock areas for the various species. Management decisions are based on stocks and there may be many stock areas for each species. NAMMCO is interested in most species and stocks including those that may be subject to by-catch and those that are not presently harvested.

IWMC World Conservation Trust