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TROUBLED WATERS - Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

TROUBLED WATERS - Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

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experienced in December, or y could even be 10.5 metres when the heave is 3.4 metres as can beexperienced in March. In addition, if we include the effects of surge, this will give a deviation to y of± 0.13 metres in December <strong>and</strong> ± 0.31 metres in March. Moreover, there is also the component ofmovement caused by sway, which will give a left or right deviation of y of 0.31 metres in December<strong>and</strong> 0.60 metres in March. In conclusion, the relatively large motions experienced in March <strong>and</strong> theirrelatively high frequency of motion in December will impact greatly on the accuracy of the gunnerswhile hunting in this ocean region during either December or March.ConclusionsThe weather condition, sea state <strong>and</strong> ship motions which are discussed in this study, give rise toserious concern about the ability to accurately harpoon a whale <strong>and</strong> to reliably kill a whaleinstantaneously. Major differences exist between the shooting of terrestrial mammals <strong>and</strong> the killingof whales, as during whaling operations both the gunner <strong>and</strong> the animal are in motion in almost allcases. Furthermore, the gunner has no means to reduce these movements. It is, therefore, appropriateto relate weather <strong>and</strong> sea conditions, <strong>and</strong> harpoon <strong>and</strong> ship motions, to the proportion of whales thatare not being killed instantaneously. If the weather or sea conditions, or the motions of a ship do notallow a properly aimed shot, then there is significant risk of poorly placed harpoon hits resulting inextended TTD’s <strong>and</strong> animal suffering. This argument provides a strong case that harpooning shouldbe halted under difficult sea conditions, to promote best practice, <strong>and</strong> to help protect the welfare ofthe hunted animal.AcknowledgementsThe Humane <strong>Society</strong> of the United Sates, the <strong>Whale</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dolphin</strong> <strong>Conservation</strong> <strong>Society</strong> <strong>and</strong> theWorld <strong>Society</strong> for the Protection of Animals are acknowledged for their support in enabling thisstudy. The data collection by the automatic weather station at Scott Isl<strong>and</strong> is based on support by theUS National Science Foundation under Grants No. OPP-0088058 <strong>and</strong> OPP-9726040. TheComprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set project of the National Oceanic & AtmosphericAdministration of the Department of Commerce <strong>and</strong> the National Science Foundation’s NationalCenter for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in the US are kindly thanked for the precipitation, fog<strong>and</strong> wind speed data <strong>and</strong> their support. NCAR is supported by grants from the US National ScienceFoundation. Oceanweather Inc. in Cos Cob, CT (US) is thanked very much for their wave estimates.WL Delft Hydraulics in Delft (Netherl<strong>and</strong>s), Dr. Jasionowski <strong>and</strong> Professor Vassalos of the ShipStability Research Centre in Glasgow (UK), <strong>and</strong> Dr. Bunnik of the Maritime Research Institute inWageningen (Netherl<strong>and</strong>s) kindly provided assistance <strong>and</strong> explanations about ship motions.WEATHER, SEA CONDITION AND SHIP MOTIONS AFFECTING ACCURACY IN WHALING67ReferencesAnon 1991. Japanese Research on Antarctic <strong>Whale</strong> 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 <strong>and</strong> associated welfare issues. IWC/55/ rep 5.Anon 2000. Report on whale killing method in 1999/2000 Japanese whale research program under specialpermit 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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