TROUBLED WATERS - Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

experienced in December, or y could even be 10.5 metres when the heave is 3.4 metres as can be
experienced in March. In addition, if we include the effects of surge, this will give a deviation to y of
± 0.13 metres in December and ± 0.31 metres in March. Moreover, there is also the component of
movement caused by sway, which will give a left or right deviation of y of 0.31 metres in December
and 0.60 metres in March. In conclusion, the relatively large motions experienced in March and their
relatively high frequency of motion in December will impact greatly on the accuracy of the gunners
while hunting in this ocean region during either December or March.
Conclusions
The weather condition, sea state and ship motions which are discussed in this study, give rise to
serious concern about the ability to accurately harpoon a whale and to reliably kill a whale
instantaneously. Major differences exist between the shooting of terrestrial mammals and the killing
of whales, as during whaling operations both the gunner and the animal are in motion in almost all
cases. Furthermore, the gunner has no means to reduce these movements. It is, therefore, appropriate
to relate weather and sea conditions, and harpoon and ship motions, to the proportion of whales that
are not being killed instantaneously. If the weather or sea conditions, or the motions of a ship do not
allow a properly aimed shot, then there is significant risk of poorly placed harpoon hits resulting in
extended TTD’s and animal suffering. This argument provides a strong case that harpooning should
be halted under difficult sea conditions, to promote best practice, and to help protect the welfare of
the hunted animal.
Acknowledgements
The Humane Society of the United Sates, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and the
World Society for the Protection of Animals are acknowledged for their support in enabling this
study. The data collection by the automatic weather station at Scott Island is based on support by the
US National Science Foundation under Grants No. OPP-0088058 and OPP-9726040. The
Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set project of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric
Administration of the Department of Commerce and the National Science Foundation’s National
Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in the US are kindly thanked for the precipitation, fog
and wind speed data and their support. NCAR is supported by grants from the US National Science
Foundation. Oceanweather Inc. in Cos Cob, CT (US) is thanked very much for their wave estimates.
WL Delft Hydraulics in Delft (Netherlands), Dr. Jasionowski and Professor Vassalos of the Ship
Stability Research Centre in Glasgow (UK), and Dr. Bunnik of the Maritime Research Institute in
Wageningen (Netherlands) kindly provided assistance and explanations about ship motions.
References
Anon 1991. Japanese Research on Antarctic Whale Resources. Institute of Cetacean Research.
Anon 1999. Report of the workshop on whale killing methods. IWC/51/12.
Anon 2003. Report of the workshop on whale willing methods and associated welfare issues. IWC/55/ rep 5.
Anon 2000. Report on whale killing method in 1999/2000 Japanese whale research program under special
permit in the Antarctic (JARPA). WKM&AW/52/10.
Anon 2001. Report on whale killing methods in the 2000/2001 JARPA. WKM&AWI/53/7.
Anon 2002. Ship motions calculated by strip theory. Report No. 18574-1-CPO. Maritime Research Institute,
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