The North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission NAMMCO is a regional governmental organization, whose mission is the cooperation on the conservation, management and study of marine mammals in the North Atlantic. Norway, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands signed it in 1992. NAMMCO covers all species of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and pinnipeds (seals and walruses) in the region, all of which, except whales, were not covered before by an international agreement.

NAMMCO provides a forum for exchange of information among member countries on any matter related to the conservation and management of marine mammals, and has implemented the Joint Control Scheme for the Hunting of Marine Mammals. Measures developed by NAMMCO in favour of proper conservation and management of marine mammals are based on the best available scientific evidence and take into account the complexity and vulnerability of the marine ecosystem, and the rights and needs of coastal communities living from marine resources.

Having participated as observer in several meetings of the Council, the decision body of NAMMCO, IWMC can only be impressed by the effectiveness and efficiency of this small organization, in which political issues are not occupying much place. Members of the Commission share similar views and, although it would be good that other countries like Canada and the Russian Federation become members, they are able to achieve a remarkable work, also in cooperation with these countries, which participate in meetings as observers.

Two examples, amongst others, of this efficiency are the North Atlantic Sightings Survey conducted in 2001 and the holding in the first days of 2003 of a successful international conference on User Knowledge in Management Decision-Making. The former, which was the last of a series of surveys, will allow soon the completion of new abundance estimates for a number of North Atlantic whale stocks. It was achieved in spite of the fact that the scientific vessels were not allowed to survey the British waters, for odd reasons.

Perhaps the United Kingdom was concerned that the survey could demonstrate that its position in the IWC was not supported by scientific data. The second event had for objective the integration of user knowledge and scientific knowledge in management decisions.

When we compare the effectiveness of NAMMCO, which follows the advices of its efficient Scientific Committee, with the total lack of capability of the IWC to follow the advices of its own Scientific Committee and thus to achieve its goals, we may only regret that NAMMCO is dealing only with a small part of the world oceans. We should hope that similar groups would be soon created in other parts of the world, with clear objectives that could not be diverted by the involvement of countries without any direct interest in the area. Why should they be involved?

To our knowledge, the Small Islands Developing States have never been encouraged to participate in the Initiative for the Future of the Alps.