Souther Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research

OBS: Largely in response to worries about the low abundance of blue whales in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in view of their protection since the mid- 1960s, a research programme for large baleen whales was developed by the Scientific Committee. The International Whaling Commission has subsequently approved the objectives and sequence of work suggested and has now established a major new Southern Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research (SOWER) programme. This incorporates the continuation of a series of 18 annual whale sighting cruises circum navigating the Antarctic continent to assess the minke and other whale stocks. The programme also includes the collection of biopsy samples of skin from living whales and acoustic recording of blue whale sounds to determine stock and species identity and to improve abundance estimation techniques for rare populations.