T h i s p a p e r n o t t o be c i t e d w i t h o u t p r i o r r e f e r e n c e t o t h e a u t h o r
I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o u n c i l f o r t h e E x p l o r a t i o n o f t h e S e a
C.M. 1974/N:10 Marine Mammals Committee
.
.
t PUBLICATION OF CATCH STATISTICS AND ROUTINE BIOLOGICAL DATA
FOR NORTH ATLANTIC SEALS
T o r g e r Ø r i t s l a n d
I n s t i t u t e o f Marine R e s e a r c h P,box 2906, N-5011 Bergen-Nordnes
Norway
Whereas worldwide w h a l i n g s t a t i s t i c s have been p u b l i s h e d r e g u l a r l y s i n c e t h e f i r s t i s s u e o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Whaling S t a t i s t i c s i n 1930 (Committee f o r Whaling S t a t i s t i c s ,
i 1930-1973), no a t t e m p t had been made t o c o m p i l e s e a l i n g s t a t i s t i c s u n t i l m a r i n e mammals were i n c l u d e d i n t h e FAO Yearbook o f F i s h e r y S t a t i s t i c s f o r 1972 (FAO, 1 9 7 3 ) .
B e f o r e t h a t e v e n t o n l y n a t i o n a l o r r e g i o n a l s e a l i n g s t a t i s t i c s were p u b l i s h e d on a r e g u l a r b a s i s .
N a t i o n a l c a t c h e s of s e a l s i n North A t l a n t i c w a t e r s h a v e been p u b l i s h e d by Norway f o r t h e y e a r s s i n c e 1924 ( F i s k e r i d i r e k t q j r e n , 1926-1973) and by Greenland a u t h o r i t i e s f o r t h e y e a r s s i n c e 1954/55 ( M i n i s t e r i e t f o r GrØnland, no d a t e s ) . A f t e r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e I C N A F S e a 1 P a n e l i n 1966, s e a l i n g s t a t i s t i c s f o r t h e Northwest A t l a n t i c were reviewed (ICNAF, 1 9 7 0 ) and a n n u a 1 s t a t i s t i c s a r e now b e i n g p u b l i s h e d f o r
Canadian, G r e e n l a n d i c and Norwegian s e a l i n g i n t h e ICNAF a r e a ( I C N A F , 1971-1974).
I n t h e 1972 Yearbook (FAO, 1 9 7 3 ) a v a i l a b l e d a t a on sea1 c a t c h e s i n t h e y e a r s 1965-1972 by A r g e n t i n e (no c a t c h e s )
,
Canada, F i n l a n d (1972 o n l y )
,
G r e e n l a n d (no d e t a i l s ),
Norway, S o u t h A f r i c a , U K , Uruguay, USA and USSR ( o n l y n o r t h e r n£ u r s e a l s ) were summarized i n T a b l e B 6-4. D e t a i l e d s t a t i s t i c s f o r 1970-1972 were g i v e n u n d e r s e c t i o n A
-
"Norninal c a t c h e s by c o u n t r i e s " , f o r some o f t h e s e c o u n t r i e s . I t i s o b v i o u s , however, t h a t g a p s s t i l l e x i s t , and f o r t h e ICES MarineMamma1 Committee i t s h o u l d b e o f p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t t o n o t e m i s s i n g d a t a from t h e N o r t h e a s t A t l a n t i c :
Sea1 c a t c h e s i n E a s t Greenland a r e i n c l u d e d i n t h e a n n u a 1 Greenland s t a t i s t i c s ( M i n i s t e r i e t f o r GrØnland, no d a t e s j I n t h e y e a r s from 1965 t o 1969 t h e y a v e r a g e d o n e w a l r u s , a b o u t 1 4 0 0 0 r i n g e d s e a l s , 2 0 0 b e a r d e d s e a l s , 100 h a r p s e a l s and 400 hooded s e a l s p e r y e a r . C a t c h e s i n T c e l a n d a v e r a g e d 6 315 s e a l s p e r y e a r i n t h e p e r i o d from 1962 t o 1972
( A r n l a u g s s o n , 1 9 7 3 ) . S o v i e t s e a l i n g i n t h e White Sea
-
B a r e n t s Sea a r e a have c o n t i n u e d t h r o u g h a p e r i o d o f r e d u c e d c a t c h e s o f h a r p s e a l s , and amounted t o 3 1 1 3 5 h a r p s e a l s , m o s t l y p u p s , and 4 571 r i n g e d s e a l s i n 1972 ( u n p u b l i s h e d d a t a r e p o r t e d t o t h e S e a l i n g Commission f o r t h e N o r t h e a s t A t l a n t i c ) . F i n a l l y , t h e e s t i m a t e d numbers o f s e a l s k i l l e d by Swedish h u n t e r s i n t h e B a l t i c t h r o u g h t h e y e a r s 1966-1969 a v e r a g e 462 s e a l s p e r y e a r ( S o d e r b e r g , 1 9 7 0 )
.
I t a p p e a r s t h a t c a t c h e s i n N o r t h e a s t A t l a n t i c w a t e r s o f 50-60 t h o u s a n d s e a l s p e r y e a r a r e n o t r e p o r t e d on a r e g u l a r b a s i s . T h i s f i g u r e i s o f t h e same o r d e r o f magnitude a s t h e t o t a l c a t c h e s a c t u a l l y r e p o r t e d f o r t h e N o r t h e a s t
~ t l a n t i c i n t h e 1972 Yearbookfand would r a i s e t h e r e c o r d e d 1972 t o t a l f i g u r e f o r t h i s a r e a by a b o u t 60 p e r c e n t (FAO,
I t t h e r e f o r e seems a p p r o p r i a t e t h a t t h e ICES Marine Mammais Committee s h o u l d a g r e e t o recommend t h r o u g h ICES t h a t a l l member n a t i o n s r e v i e w and p u b l i s h t h e i r s e a 1 c a t c h e s i n r e c e n t y e a r s w i t h a s much d e t a i l a s p o s s i b l e , and t h a t t h e member n a t i o n s a b s o r e p o r t f u t u r e c a t c h e s of s e a l s t o FAO
f o r p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e Yearbook o f f i s h e r y s t a t i s t i c s .
S e v e r a l l i £ n o t a l l c o m m e r c i a l l y e x p l o i t e d s t o c k s o f m a r i n e mammals a r e c o n t i n u o u s l y b e i n g s t u d i e d i n o r d e r t o p r o v i d e
s c i e n t i f i c a d v i e e o n p e r m i s s i b l e c a t c h l e v e l s . Such long-term s t u d i e s y i e l d d a t a which u s u a l l y a r e r e p o r t e d t o t h e n a t i o n a l a u t h o r i t y o r t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m i s s i o n r e s p o n s i b l e f o r - t h e management of t h e e x p l o i t e d s t o c k . O c c a s i o n a l l y d a t a a r e r e t r i e v e d from t h e f i l e s and a n a l y z e d f o r a more o r
l e s s comprehensive p a p e r on t h e b i o l o g y o r p o p u l a t i o n dynamics o f a s t o c k o r a s p e c i e s . The book by R.Sh. Khuzin on North A t l a n t i c h a r p s e a l s may be c i t e d a s a n example o f a r a t h e r
comprehensive t r e a t i s e p a r t l y based on s u c h d a t a (Khuzin, 1 1 9 7 2 ) . A more s p e c i f i c a n a l y c i s o f t h e a g e c o m p o s i t i o n and m o r t a l i t y o f m o u l t i n g hooded s e a l s sampled i n t h e Denmark S t r a i t t h r o u g h t h e two l a s t d e c a d e s i s p r e s e n t l y b e i n g
p r e p a r e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n a t t h e I n s t i t u t e o f Marine R e s e a r c h , Bergen,
The p o i n t t o be made h e r e , however, i s t h a t r o u t i n e sampling o f t e n i s c o n t i n u e d , a l s o a f t e r t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of s u c h
comprehensive a n a l y s e s which, by t h e way, may b e p u b l i s h e d more f r e q u e n t l y i n t h e n e x t few y e a r s . Most w o r k e r s a r e aware t h a t new d a t a w i t h b r i e f comments t o r e l a t e t h e new f i n d i n g s t o p r e v i o u s r e s u l t s would b e o f g r e a t i n t e r e s t t o i n v e s t i g a t o r s working i n t h e same o r r e l a t e d f i e l d s , b u t some w o r k e r s may have been r e l u c t a n t t o make t h e i r d a t a a v a i l a b l e t o o t h e r s b e c a u s e t h e y want t o keep t h e r i g h t o f a u t h o r s h i p . I t t h e r e f o r e s h o u l d b e p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e I C E S Annales B i o l o g i q u e s p r o v i d e s a n i n s t r u m e n t t o p u b l i s h r o u t i n e b i o l o g i c a l d a t a on t h e s t o c k s o f s e a l s and o t h e r m a r i n e mammals w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c i n g t h e r i g h t s o f a u t k o r s .
The f a c t t h a t no m a t e r i a l on s e a l s o r w h a l e s h a s been p u b l i s h e d i n t h e Annales s i n c e t h e r e o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e Marine Mammal Committee i n 1966 i s r e g r e t t a b l e , b u t t h i s s h o u l d n o t p r e v e n t t h e f u t u r e u s e o f t h i s r a t h e r u n i q u e series f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e Committee.
On t h i s background i t i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e Marine Mamma1 Committee c o n s i d e r t h e R u l e s and d e c i s i o n s r e g a r d i n g t h e e d i t o r i a l p o l i c y f o r t h e Annales B i o l o g i q u e s and C o u n c i l R e s o l u t i o n 1971/1:5 a s c i t e d i n ICES C i r c u l a r L e t t e r
E.1/30 (Appendix 1) w i t h t h e view t o r e a c h a n a g r e e m e n t o n t h e u s e of t h e A n n a l e s f o r p u b l i c a t i o n o f f u t u r e r o u t i n e d a t a on s e a l s and p o s s i b l y a l s o on w h a l e s . Tn d o i n g s o l t h e Committee s h o u l d keep i n mind t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g a g r e e d upon a t i t s 1967 m e e t i n g , " t h a t t h e Committee i s c o n c e r n e d w i t h a l l m a r i n e mammals, b u t p r i m a r i l y w i t h t h o s e o f t h e N o r t h A t l a n t i c " .
T h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g h a s some b e a r i n g on t h e d e c i s i o n under i t e m 7 i n C i r c u l a r L e t t e r E.1/30 (Appendix l ) , t h a t " M a t e r i a l which i s r e p o r t e d t o ICNAF s h o u l d n o t b e s e n t t o Annales
B i o l o g i q u e s " . T h i s d e c i s i o n a l s o i s i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h t h e p o i n t r a i s e d i n t h i s p a p e r , t h a t r o u t i n e d a t a s h o u l d be made a v a i l a b l e t o f e l l o w w o r k e r s . Most o f t h e m a t e r i a l on s e a l s r e p o r t e d t o I C N A F , i n p a r t i c u l a r a l l r o u t i n e d a t a , a r e
s u b m i t t e d i n " r e s t r i c t e d " R e s e a r c h Documents. T h e r e f o r e t h e d a t a a r e n o t a v a i l a b l e and c a n n o t be c i t e d f r e e l y u n l e s s t h e y a r e i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t h e p r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e ICNAF
S t a n d i n g Committee o n R e s e a r c h and S t a t i s t i c s and p u b l i s h e d i n t h e ICNAF Redbook.
A c c o r d i n g l y i t i s p r o p o s e d t h a t t h e Marine Mammal Committee recommend :
1) t h a t t h e c u r r e n t c h a p t e r t i t l e "WhaleSr under " P a r t I11 The F i s h " i n t h e scheme f o r Annales B i o l o g i q u e s i s changed t o "Marine Mammals";
2 ) t h a t t h e d e c i s i o n t h a t " M a t e r i a l which i s r e p o r t e d t o ICNAF s h o u l d n o t b e s e n t t o " i s n o t t o b e a p p l i e d t o d a t a o n m a r i n e mammals; a n d
3 ) t h a t ICES w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o C - R e s . 1 9 7 1 / 1 : 1 e x t e n d s a s p e c i a l i n v i t a t i o n t o member c o u n t r i e s t o p u b l i s h f u t u r e r o u t i n e d a t a o n s e a l s a n d o t h e r m a r i n e mammals i n A n n a l e s B i o l o q i q u e s .
R e f e r e n e e s
A r n l a u g s s o n , T . 1 9 7 3 . S e l i r v i d I s l a n d F a l s i n I c e l a n d i c w a t e r s 7 . R a n n s o k n a s t o f nun f i s k i 6 n a 8 a r i n s ,
C -I
R e y k j a v i k , 36 p . I ~ i m e o . , i n I c e l a n d i c w i t h E n g l i s h Summary
- /.
Committee f o r Whaling S t a t i s t i c s 1930-1973. I n t e r n a t i o n a l Whaling S t a t i s t i e s , 1 - 7 2 .
FAO 1 9 7 3 . C a t c h e s a n d l a n d i n g s L972. Yearbook F i s h , S t a t i s t . , 3 4 : l - 5 6 0 .
F i s k e r i d i r e k t Ø r e n 1926-1973. S e l f a n g s t e n
. . .
A r s b e r e t n . Norg. F i s k . , 1924-1970.ICNAF 1 9 7 0 . P a r t 111 T a b u l a r summaries o f s e a 1 c a t c h e s , 1937-68. P a r t I V S e a l i n g s t a t i s t i c s , 1 9 6 8 . P a r t V S e a l i n g s t a t i s t i c s , 1937-67.
--
S t a t i s t . B u l l . i n s t . Commn NW. A t l a n t . F i s h . , 18:124-148.ICNAF i 9 7 1 - 1 9 7 4 . P a r t I11 S e a l i n g s t a t i s t i c s ,
. . .
S t a t i s t . B u l l . i n t . Commn NW. A t l a n t . F i s h . , 1 9 - 2 2 : . . . .
Khuzin, R.Sh. 1972. Ekologo-morfologicheskii analiz razlichii i perspektivy promysla grenlandskogo tyulenya Belomorskoi, Yan-Maienskoi i N'yufaundlendskoi populyatsii. pio-morphological analysis of differences and prospects for hunting of harp seals of the White Sea, Jan Mayen and Newfoundland populationsl. -
-
Ir(us4ian ..- text u.)
-..Knizhnoe Izdatelstvo, Murmansk, 174 pp.
Ministeriet for GrØnland
- .
Hunting statistics based on the Greenlanders' lists of game...
F n 1974 available for the fiscal years from 1954/55 to 1965/66 and for the years from 1966 to 1969:y -r
od er berg,
S. 1970. sa1 och jaktstatistik. Fauna och Flora, 65 (4) :138-144.-
International Council for .the Exploration of the Sea
HTL/C AT
Ref :E.
1/30P
2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark.
6
February 1974Dear Colleague,
1. This is to remind you that it is now time to consider your contribution
t o (for 1973). You are also reminded
that the deadline date for manuscripts is:
2. Your atten'tion is drawn to the Rule governing the editorial policy £ok
I "Annales Biologiques", that it shall contain:
"a yearly record of data, arranged by areas in summary tables
and/or diagramrnes, of the composition of the stocks of fish of commercial importance in relation to the hydrographical and other factors",
What should be reported to "Annales Biologiq~les'~ is, therefore, such
investigations as make it possible to follow from year to year the develop- ment of the stocks in their dependence upon the environment and the
exploitation.
3.
-In this connection,P
wish to draw your attention to the following Besolutic adopted by the Council in l971 (~,Bes,1971/1:5):"It was decided that in view of the great interest expressed in the information published in "Annales Biologiques", the series should be continued and even extended, taking into account the continuing expansion of research activities in the member countries. firtherrnore, the countries which carry out investigations within the area of research of ICES are encouraged to publish more systematically regular reports of their investigations, also in cases where these take place in regions south of Gibraltar",
4.
Authors ar@ also requested to take note of the following decision of the Council (C ,~es.1971/1:1(%)) that r"temperature and salinåty anomalies should only be published by ICES when the anomaly base periods and means are given",
5.
The material for Volurne 30 will be arranged chapterwise as follows, and authors are kindly requested to adjust their contributions in accordance with the scheme:Part
I
Bydrography Part IIa Plankton Part IIb Bentho sPart I11 The Fish: Gadoid Pish Anadromous and Ca$adramsua Clupeoid Fish Fi sh
Scornbriform Fish Flatfish
/ ~ n n t d
Part I11 ( ~ t 'd) : Other Fish (including observations on rare species)
Shellf ish Whales
Part
IV
Joint Investigations6.
Some overlapping between "Annales Biologiques" and llStatistical News Letters"- can hardly be avoided. In such cases, authors aredetailed tables for publication in the "Statistical News Letters", and include a general summary in "Annales Biologiques".
7.
Material which is reported to ICNAF should not be sent to "Annales Biologiques".8, Manuscripts should be sent directly to the General Secretary of ICES.
Authors of contributions to the chapters on:
Kydrograph~, Plankton,
s,
andare kindly requested to send a second copy of their manuscript and tables, and photocopy of the illustrations, together with the original manuscript, to the General Secretary. This will allow the authors of the Introductions of these four chapters to work on the basis of manuscript copies, and would contribute substantially to reducing the time needed for production of the volume.
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11. May
I
again remind you that the deadline date (15 April 1974) is extrernely important for a timely issue of the volume. Thank you!Yours sincerely,
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lambs-#the
t General SecretaryEnc: Instructions to authors of Contributions to "Annales Biologiques".
