The International Decade of Cetacean Research (IDCR) has been conducted since 1978 to estimate the stock abundance of whales. Based upon the data obtained through the IDCR cruises, the IWC Scientific Committee (IWC/SC) estimated the population size of the Southern Hemisphere minke whales to be 760,000 animals.

Southern Ocean

The Commission has agreed to provide financial support for two cruises in the Southern Hemisphere as part of a newly designated IWC-SOWER programme (Southern Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research). One is aimed at providing information on blue whales and the other is aimed at providing information on minke, blue and other whales. The Government of Japan is generously providing the vessels for these cruises.

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From Current Findings of the Japanese Whale Research
Program under the special permit in the Antarctic, published
by the Riches of the Sea, Japan and edited by the Fisheries
Agency, the Government of Japan, 1995.

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