SC/67a/SP

Cruise Report of the Second Phase of the Japanese Whale Research
Program under Special Permit in the Western North Pacific (JARPN II) in
2016 (Part III) - Coastal component off Kushiro HIDEYOSHI YOSHIDA1, KAZUTOYO SHIMETANI2, HIKARI MAEDA1, GEN NAKAMURA3, KAZUYOSHI NAKAI4,SATOKO INOUE4, AYUMI HIROSE3, RYOTARO HAYASHI3, MINORU AKAGI3, KEN NAKAJYO3, FUTABANISHIMURA3, HIROKO ASANO3, AYA FUKAMI3, SAEKO KUMAGAI2, JYUN KANBAYASHI2, AYANO KUWAGAKI2,TOMIO MIYASHITA1, SHINGO MINAMIKAWA1, YU KANAJI1, HIROKO SASAKI1, RYOTA YAMADA3, AI
KAKINUMA5, AND HIDEHIRO KATO3.
1

National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Fisheries Research Agency, 2-12-4 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku,
Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8648, Japan
2
Association for Community-Based Whaling, Hakata-Kaiseki Building 2F, Hakata-Eki-Higashi, Hakata-ku,
Fukuoka 812-0013, Japan
3
Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0075, Japan
4
The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0055, Japan.
5Tokyo University of Agriculture, 196 Yatsusaka, Abashiri, Hokkaido 099-2493, Japan.

Contact e-mail:hideka@fra.affrc.go.jp
ABSTRACTThe JARPN II coastal component off Kushiro, northeast Japan (middle part of the sub-area 7CN) was conductedfrom 5 September to 31 October 2016. The survey was conducted using four small-type whaling catcher boats as
sampling vessels in coastal waters within 50 nautical miles from Kushiro port. All the whales collected were landed
at the JARPN II research station for biological examination. During the survey, a total of 6,051.6 nautical miles(622.9 hours) was searched and the 39 schools (40 individuals) of common minke whales were encountered.
Sightings of 39 schools (64 animals) of humpback whales, of two schools (three individuals) of fin whales, a
Bryde’s whale, and of five schools (11 individuals) of sperm whales were also obtained. Of 40 common minke
whales encountered, 21 animals were collected. One Bryde’s whale was mistakenly shot. Average body length ofmale common minke whales collected was 7.09m (SD=0.53, Range=6.00-7.75m, n=8) and 7.07m (SD=1.01,
Range=5.07-8.85m, n=13) for females. The seven animals of 8 males were sexually mature and 6 of 13 females
attained to sexual maturity. The three mature females were pregnant. Dominant prey species detected from whale
forestomach was Japanese sardine (Sardinops melanostictus, 38.1%), followed by walleye pollock (Theragra
chalcogramma, 28.6%) and mackerels (Scomber japonicus and S. australasicus, 28.6%). Japanese anchovy, which
was one of the major prey species in the previous surveys off Kushiro, was not found from whale forestomach.
The observation coincided with an increase in catch of Japanese sardine by fisheries around Kushiro, where thespecies was much caught after an interval of around 30 years. During the surveys, faecal searching was made for20.3 hours on 35 animals encountered, but excretion was not observed. A total of 62.3 hours (10.0% of a total
searching efforts) was allocated to the dedicated sighting surveys for biopsy sampling. An animal encountered
were targeted, however no sample was collected.
KEYWORDS: COMMON MINKE WHALE; NORTH PACIFIC; COASTAL WATERS OF JAPAN; FOOD/PREY;ECOSYSTEM; SCIENTIFIC PERMITS.

BACKGROUND
The full-scale survey of the second phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in
the Western North Pacific (JARPN II) was started in 2002. The survey mainly aimed at i) feeding ecology
and ecosystem studies, involving prey consumption by cetaceans, prey preferences of cetaceans andecosystem modeling, ii) monitoring environmental pollutants in cetaceans and the marine ecosystem, and iii)
elucidation of stock structure of whales (Government of Japan, 2002a).
The full-scale JARPN II consists of two survey components, i.e., offshore and coastal components. The
JARPN surveys (1994-1999) and the JARPN II feasibility study (2000-2001) revealed that common minke

1whales are widely distributed from offshore waters into coastal waters and feed on various prey species such
as Japanese anchovy, Pacific saury, and walleye pollock (Government of Japan 2002b; Tamura and Fujise
2002). Both the waters are very important fishing grounds. Thus, it is thought that the waters are also very
important area for the full-scale JARPN II program. However, the Nisshin Maru research vessels can not be
operated in near shore areas, because of their movement restrictions in shallow waters and the presence offishing gear and many boats. Furthermore, the research vessels are not available from autumn to early spring.
In order to cover the temporal and spatial gap of these vessels, in the full-scale JARPN II, sampling ofcommon minke whales in coastal waters using small-type whaling catcher boats was planned (Governmentof Japan, 2002a).
In the first two years of the full-scale JARPN II, feasibility studies were conducted, to examine the logistic
aspects of the methodology in the coastal component. The first feasibility study was carried out in coastal
waters off Kushiro in autumn 2002 and the second one was in coastal waters off Sanriku in spring 2003
(Kishiro et al. 2003, Yoshida et al. 2004). Since no logistic problem occurred in the studies, it was concluded
that the coastal survey could be continued as the component of the full-scale JARPN II, using the same
methodology (Government of Japan 2004b, Kato et al. 2004), while the survey was revised to be conducted
twice a year and to collect 60 common minke whales in each of spring and autumn (Government of Japan
2004a).
The first revised full-scale survey was carried out in coastal waters off Kushiro in autumn 2004 (Kishiro etal. 2005), then the coastal survey was conducted annually from 2005 to 2008 (Kishiro et al. 2006, 2008,
Yoshida et al. 2007, 2009). In January 2009, the JARPN II review workshop was carried out in Japan underthe IWC/SC, where the progress made in the first six years of the full-scale JARPN II (2002-2007) was
reviewed by the scientific specialists. Because there was no critical problem in the survey methodology, thecoastal components were continued from 2009 to 2013 (Kishiro et al. 2010, 2012, 2014, Yoshida et al. 2011,2013), under the original research plan (Government of Japan 2004a).
Following the March 31, 2014 Judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case Whaling in
the Antarctic (Australia v. Japan: New Zealand intervening), the Government of Japan voluntarily reviewed
the state of JARPN II. Overall research objectives, the research area and research methodology remain thesame as those specified in the original JARPN II research plan (Government of Japan, 2004a). This voluntary
review resulted in modification of maximum lethal sample size of 60 to 51 for each survey, and non-lethal
method was introduced to the surveys. The modifications were applied in the 2014 surveys (Mogoe, at al.,2015, and Yoshida, et al., 2015). The 2016 survey was conducted following the same framework andmodifications introduced in 2014.
Here, we show results of the 2016 survey conducted off Kushiro. The National Research Institute of Far Seas
Fisheries (NRIFSF) of the Fisheries Research Agency planned and conducted the survey, under cooperationof the ICR, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, and the Association for Community-Based
Whaling. The present survey was the last coastal survey conducted off Kushiro under the JARPNII.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Research area
Research area was set in the same waters where the previous JARPN II coastal surveys off Kushiro wereconducted in 2002-2013 (Kishiro et al. 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, Yasunaga et al.
2012, Yoshida et al. 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014): the area was in coastal waters within 50 nautical miles
from Kushiro port, southeastern Hokkaido (Fig. 1). The area is included in the middle part of the sub-area
7CN, established by the IWC.
Research vessels, station, and period
Four small-type whaling catcher boats were used as sampling vessels: Taisho Maru No. 3 (19.0GT), Koei
Maru No. 8 (32.0GT), Katsu Maru No.7 (32.0GT), and Sumitomo Maru No.51 (30.0GT). All the common
minke whales collected were landed at the JARPN II research station established in the Kushiro port, forbiological examination. Research period was set for 57 days, from 5 September to 31 October, 2016.
Searching and sampling methods
Searching and sampling methods were almost same with those for the first coastal survey off Kushiro in2

2002 (Kishiro et al. 2003). The research head office established in the research station controlled thesampling vessels during the survey. In order to avoid concentration of searching effort in an area, searchingareas and direction of vessels were determined by the office, from weather conditions, whale distribution,and information on fishing grounds of coastal fisheries. After vessels left the port, they principally
continued to cruise along the predetermined direction until arriving at 15-30 n. miles from the port, thenchange their direction chosen by themselves and continued searching within the research area. Searching
was carried out in the daytime and vessels returned to the port every night. A researcher was on board eachof vessels and recorded sighting and sampling information, e.g., coordinates and time of common minke
whale sighting and sampling made, weather conditions, and vessel activity. Sighting information was also
recorded for other baleen whales and sperm whales. Searching was conducted by crews and researchers
from the top barrel and upper bridge of vessels running at around 11 knots. All common minke whales
sighted were targeted for sampling, except cow-calf pair. When a school consisted of more than 1 animal,
an individual was selected randomly from the school and then collected. Once a vessel caught a whale, it
returned to the Kushiro port, to transport the animal to the research station. While returning to the port,other common minke whales encountered were also targeted for sampling, if the situation allowed. At theport, animals were lifted from the vessel by the crane, using a wire net and then carried to the station by the
11-ton freight trailer. At that time, body weight of animals was measured using the truck scale.
Practicability survey for biopsy and faecal sampling from the vessel
Biopsy sampling and faecal sampling trials for common minke whales was carried out by small-typewhaling catcher boats. Biopsy sampling was tried during the dedicated sighting surveys conducted at theoutside of the whale sampling activities. Searching and chasing methods was same as the whale sampling
survey mentioned above. The Larsen guns were used for sampling. Faecal searching was conducted asmuch as possible for the whales encountered and chased for both the whale sampling and biopsy sampling.
If the excretion were observed, faecal samples were planned to be collected using the plankton net.
Biological research on common minke whales collected
All the whales collected were examined by biological researchers at the research station. Research items
are listed in Table 2. These items were related to studies on feeding ecology, stock structure, life history andpollutions.
RESULTS
Searching effort made by sampling vessels
The sampling survey was started on 5 September and finished on 31 October. Of the 57 days, vessels
conducted searching for 34 days (59.6%). The remaining days were not suitable for survey, from badweather conditions, e.g., low atmospheric pressure and thick fog. Cruise tracks made by the vessels areshown in Figure 2. Searching distance and time are given in Table 1. Searching distance and time aredefined as distance and time recorded under searching activity conducted by crews from the top barrel ofthe vessels. During the survey, a total of 6051.6 nautical miles (622.9 hours) was searched.
Sightings made by vessels
All the 39 schools (40 individuals) of common minke whales were sighted during the searching (Table 1, Fig.
2). No cow-calf pairs were encountered. Cruise tracks were widely distributed in coastal waters within 30
nautical miles from Kushiro port, and sightings of common minke whales were recorded in searching areawith concentration on continental slope southeast and southwest of Kushiro. Density index of common minke
whales was calculated as 0.59 for DI (the number of primary sightings of schools per 100 nautical miles
searching) and 0.06 for SPUE (the number of primary sightings of schools per 1 hour searching). During thesurvey, 39 schools (64 animals) of humpback whales, two schools (three individuals) of fin whales, a Bryde’s
whale, and five schools (11 individuals) of sperm whales were also obtained (Table 1, Fig. 3). The Bryde’s whalesighting was first record collected at the coastal component off Kushiro.
Sampling of common minke whales
Of the 40 common minke whales encountered, 21 animals were collected for biological examination. In thesampling process, struck and lost was not occurred. Sighting positions of animals collected are shown in
Figure 2.

3Practicability survey for biopsy and faecal sampling from the vessel
A total of 62.3 hours (10.0% of a total searching efforts) was allocated to the dedicated sighting surveys forbiopsy sampling. An animal encountered were targeted, but no chance for shooting the darts resulted in nosample collected. To 35 animals encountered during the Kushiro survey, observation of excretion was
conducted for 20.3 hours. No such behaviour was observed.
Body length, sex ratio, and maturity of animals caught
Research items of biological examination for the 21 animals collected are summarized in Table 2, with thenumber of data and samples obtained. The individuals consisted of 8 males and 13 females. Sex ratio of males
to all animals was 38.1%. Average body length was 7.09m (SD=0.53, range=6.00-7.75m) for males and7.07m (SD=1.01, range=5.07-8.85m) for females (Table 3). In males, the most dominant length class was 7.0
m (Fig. 4). It was 6.0m and 7.5m for females. Male with a single testis weight of 290g or more and female
having at least one corpus luteum or albicans in their ovaries were determined as sexually mature. In males,
7 of 8 individuals (87.5%) were sexually mature (Table 4). In females, 6 of 13 individuals (46.2%) were
sexually mature. The three mature females were pregnant. The foetus were a male with 174 cmof body lengthand two female (144.8cm and 119.2cm).
Prey species found from common minke whale forestomach
Stomach contents of the 21 animals were examined. Following the same methods used in the JARPN II
feasibility survey conducted in 2001 (Fujise, et al., 2002), stomach contents were weighed to the nearest
0.1 kg, by each of four chambers. Weights were recorded both including and excluding liquid contents. A
small quantity of stomach contents was collected and frozen for laboratory analysis. Weight of forestomach
contents including liquid ranged from 2.2 kg to 81.3 kg. Average weight was 34.1 kg. Forestomach contents
found from the whales are listed in Table 5 and Figure 5. An individual had empty stomach. Dominant preyspecies detected from whale forestomach was Japanese sardine (Sardinops melanostictus, 38.1%), followed
by walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma, 28.6%) and mackerels (Scomber japonicus and S.
australasicus, 28.6%). Japanese sardine and mackerels were observed from forestomach throughout thesurvey period, but walleye pollocks were detected at early stage of the survey. Japanese anchovy (Engraulisjaponicas) and Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) were not observed.
Figure 6 shows prey species found in forestomach of common minke whales by their sexual maturity stage.
The three species were frond from stomach of both mature and immature animals.
Observation of marine debris
Marine debris was detected from stomach of a male, which swallowed a small piece of the plastic product.
Mistaken shot of a Bryde’s whale
On 20 September, one Bryde’s whale was mistakenly shot. Sighting position of the animal was 42-36.9N and
144-32.3E. Following the instructions of Fisheries Agency of Japan, the animal was immediately released at
the sea. No biological examination and samplings were conducted. There had been no sighting record of
Bryde’s whales off Kushiro during the coastal component of JARPNII. Estimated body length of the animal
was 6.5m, equivalent to the one of common minke whales collected off Kushiro (see, Fig. 4). It was therefore
suspected that crews had misidentified the Bryde’s whale as a common minke whale. In order to prevent
similar case from occurring, the FAJ reinstructed all the crews involved to carefully and thoroughly identify
whale species before shooting.
DISCUSSION
At the coastal component off Kushiro, bad weather conditions, e.g., low atmospheric pressure and thick fog,
often prevented sampling vessels from research activities. At the present survey, sampling vessels could
conduct searching for 34 days of the 57 days survey period (59.6%). The ratio was lower in October (51.6%)
than in September (65.4%), which suggests more unstable weather in October. Density index of common
minke whales recorded in the present survey (DI=0.59) was extremely low, when it is compared with resultsof the past surveys (e.g., 1.46 in 2015 and 3.30 in 2014). Possibly, the low density of migrating whales
resulted from high sea surface temperature (SST) recorded in the present survey. Usually, off Kushiro,
common minke whales were encountered at the waters with the SST less than 20 °C. The normal SST
recorded off Kushiro in September was also less than 20 °C (Fig. 8). However, in 2016, it was higher than
20 °C. The SST cooled down to less than 20 °C in October and the DI increased from 0.54 in September to4

0.66 in October. The low density of migrating whales in September and worse weather in October would
obstruct the sampling operation. In the present survey, first sighting of the Bryde’s whale was recorded off
Kushiro. Possibly, the animal migrated to the waters, from the high SST.
Figure 4 shows body length compositions of common minke whales caught in 2016, with results of theprevious surveys. In the past surveys, animals with various body lengths were collected. However, in thepresent survey, animals with small body length less than 5.0m were not collected, though sample size wassmall. The body length composition in the present survey appears to be similar to those recorded in the 2004
survey, where number of animals with small body length was extremely less than that of large whales. In
contrast, more small animals were collected in the 2008-2010 surveys. These results suggest that growth stage of
migrating animals are different among years, possibly from environmental condition including prey species
distribution.
Dominant prey species detected from whale forestomach was Japanese sardine, followed by walleye
pollock and mackerels (see, Table 5 and Fig. 5). Japanese anchovy and Pacific saury were not observed.
When the JARPNII coastal component off Kushiro was started in 2002, commercial catch of Japanesesardine around Kushiro was very small. While no Japanese sardine was detected from stomach of whales
collected at the 2002 survey, Japanese anchovy was found most frequently (Figure. 5). In 2012, Japanesesardine was first detected form whale stomach at Kushiro. After that, the sardine is one of the major preyspecies, replacing the Japanese anchovy. The change of prey species in recent years coincide with fisheries
catch off Kushiro. In autumn 2012, the Japanese sardine was much caught after an interval of around 30
years and then the high catch level is kept. These results suggest that the stomach contents of whales reflect
the large-scale change of occurrence of prey species.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We acknowledge Dr. Seiji Ohsumi (ICR) and Yoshihiro Fujise (ICR), and Messrs. Yuki Morita and Ryuta
Fujio (the Fisheries Agency of Japan), for their guidance in the survey design and support. Crew of research
vessels, staff of the research station in Kushiro, and the Association for Community-Based Whaling assisted inimportant aspects of the survey. We also thank the Kushiro fisheries cooperative association, the municipal
office of Kushiro, Hokkaido government Kushiro sub-prefectural office, and Hokkaido government office,for their kind assistance.
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Gokita, A., Matsunaga, H., and Yamasaki, K., 2009. Cruise report of the second phase of the Japanese
Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Western North Pacific (JARPN II) in 2008 (Part II)- Coastal component off Kushiro. Paper SC/61/O5 submitted to the 61th IWC Scientific Committee, 10pp.
Yoshida, H., Ito, N., Kishiro, T., Miyashita, T., Iwasaki, T., Minamikawa, S., Kanaji, Y., Oikawa, H., Tabata,T., Kumagai, S., Nakamura, G., Maeda, H., Inoue, S., Miyakawa, N., Ishikawa, Y., Shimizu, K., Yonehara,Y., Kitayama, K., Tsutsumi, T., and Kato, H. 2011. Cruise report of the second phase of the Japanese
Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Western North Pacific (JARPN II) in 2010 (Part III)- Coastal component off Kushiro. Paper SC/63/O4 submitted to the 63th IWC Scientific Committee, 10pp.
Yoshida, H., Ito, N., Kishiro, T., Miyashita, T., Yasunaga, G., Hara, T., Nakamura, G., Maeda, H., Inoue, S.,
Tsutsumi, T., Ishida, K., Tamai, N., Kadowaki, I., Oka, S., Takahashi, M., Fukumoto, A., Kumagai, S.,
Sato, H., Sakamoto, N., Kitayama, K., Kobayashi, N. and Kato, H. 2013. Cruise report of the Second phaseof the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the western North Pacific (JARPN II) in
2012 (Part III) - Coastal component off Kushiro. Paper SC/65a/O6 submitted to the 65ath IWC ScientificCommittee, 12pp.
Yoshida, H., Ito, N., Kishiro, T., Miyashita, T., Nakai, K., Nakamura, G., Maeda, H., Ishida, K., Takahasi,
M., Ota, M., Furuyama, Y., Kato, K., Hayashi, R., Hiruda, H., Kumagai, S., Kasamoto, N., Kimura, Y.,
Teshima, I aand Kato, H. 2015. Cruise report of the Second phase of the Japanese Whale Research
Program under Special Permit in the western North Pacific (JARPN II) in 2014 (Part III) - Coastal
component off Kushiro. Paper SC/66a/SP7 submitted to the 66ath IWC Scientific Committee, 13pp.

Table 1. Searching days, distances, hours, and number of cetacean sightings made during the 2016 JARPN II
coastal component off Kushiro.
Number of sightings*
PeriodDays Distances Hours
SpeciesPrimary
Secondary
Total(n. miles)(Ind/Sch)(Ind/Sch)（Ind/Sch）
9/5-10/31
57
6,051.6
622.9
Common minke whale
37/36
3/3
40/39
Like minke whale
18/18
1/1
19/19
Fin whale
3/2
0/0
3/2
Humpback whale
58/35
6/4
64/39
Bryde’s whale
1/1
0/0
1/1
Sperm whale
7/4
1/1
8/5
*: The number probably includes some duplicated sightings made by plural vessels.

7

Table 2. Summary of biological data and samples collected during the 2016 JARPN II coastal survey
off Kushiro.
Number of animals
Samples and data
Body length and sex
External body proportion
Photographic record and external body character
Diatom film record
Body scar record
Measurements of blubber thickness (five points)
Detailed measurements of blubber thickness (11 points)
Body weight
Body weight by parts
Skin tissues for DNA analysis
Muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, blubber, and heart for various analysis
Urine for various analysis
Muscle, liver, kidney, and blubber for heavy metal analysis
Muscle, liver, kidney, and blubber for organochlorine analysis
Collection of blood plasma
Mammary grand; lactation status, measurement and histological sample
Uterine horn; measurements and endometrium sample
Collection of ovary
Photographic record of foetus
Foetal length and weight
External body measurements of foetus
Skin tissues for DNA study of foetus
Muscle, liver, kidney, heart, blubber and skin tissues of foetus
Eye lens of foetus for age determination
Collection of foetus
Testis and epididymis; weight and histological sample
Stomach contents, convenient record
Volume and weight of stomach content in each compartment
Observation of marine debris in stomach
Collection of stomach contents for feeding study
Record of external parasites
Earplug for age determination
Eye lens for age determination
Baleen plate with V-shape notch on its outer edge for age determination
Baleen plate measurements (length and breadth)
Photographic record of baleen plate series
Length of baleen series
Vertebral epiphyses sample
Number of ribs
Skull measurement (length and breadth)
Content of large intestine
Measurement of flipper white patch

8

Male
8
8
8
8
8
8
0
8
0
8
8
1
8
8
7
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
0
8
8
8
8
8
8
1
8

Female
13
13
13
13
13
13
1
13
1
13
13
2
13
13
11
13
13
13
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
0
13
13
13
12
13
13
4
13

Total
21
21
21
21
21
21
1
21
1
21
21
3
21
21
18
13
13
13
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
8
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
0
21
21
21
20
21
21
5
21

Table 3. Body length (m) of common minke whales collected in the 2016 JARPNII coastal component off
Kushiro.
PeriodMale
FemaleMean
S.D. Min. Max.
n
Mean S.D.
Min. Max. n
9/5-9/15
7.36
0.31
6.95
7.75
5
6.47
1
9/16-9/30

7.01

-

-

-

1

7.16

0.90

6.24

8.19

4

10/1-10/15

6.00

-

-

-

1

7.78

0.74

7.23

8.85

4

10/16-10/31

6.96

-

-

-

1

6.41

1.14

5.07

7.85

4

Total (9/5-10/31)

7.09

0.53

6.00

7.75

8

7.07

1.01

5.07

8.85

13

Table 4. Composition of sexual maturity of common minke whales collected in the 2016 JARPNII
coastal component off Kushiro.
PeriodMale
FemaleIm

M TotalMaturity*

Im

R

P

Total Pregnancy* Maturity*

Sex
ratio
(%males)

9/5-9/15

0

5

5

100.0

1

0

0

1

-

0.0

83.3

9/16-9/30

0

1

1

100.0

2

1

1

4

50.0

50.0

20.0

10/1-10/15

1

0

1

0.0

1

1

2

4

66.7

75.0

20.0

10/16-10/31

0

1

1

100.0

3

1

0

4

0.0

33.3

20.0

Total (9/5-10/31)
1
7
8
87.5
7
Im: Immature; M: Mature; R: Resting; P: Pregnant; *: %.

3

3

13

50.0

46.2

38.1

Table 5. Number of common minke whales by major prey species found in forestomach, collected in
the 2016 JARPN II coastal component off Kushiro.
Number of whales (%)
PeriodAll
WalleyeJapanese
Mackerels
Empty
pollock
sardine
9/5-9/15
3 (50.0)
2 (33.3)
1 (16.7)
0 (0.0)6 (100.0)
9/16-9/30

3 (60.0)

2 (40.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)5 (100.0)

10/1-10/15

0 (0.0)1 (20.0)

3 (60.0)

1 (20.0)

5 (100.0)

10/16-10/31

0 (0.0)3 (60.0)

2 (40.0)0 (0.0)5 (100.0)

All (9/5-10/31)

6 (28.6)

8 (38.1)

6 (28.6)

1 (4.8)21 (100.0)

9

Kushiro

50n. miles

Figure 2. Cruise tracks (upper) and sighting positions (lower) ofcommon minke whales made by sampling vessels during the2016 JARPN II coastal survey off Kushiro. Black circles aresighting positions of common minke whales collected.
Isobaths are 100m, 200m, and 1000m.

Figure 1. Research area set for the 2014 JARPN II coastal survey off
Kushiro. Isobaths are 100m, 200m, 1000m, and 2000m.

10Figure 3. Sighting positions of humpback (gray circle), fin (black circle),
Bryde’s (gray triangle) and sperm (black triangle) whales madeby sampling vessels during the 2016 JARPN II coastal survey
off Kushiro. Isobaths are 100m, 200m, and 1000m.

Figure 4. Body length frequency of common minke whales sampled during the 2016 JARPN II
coastal survey off Kushiro, with results of the previous 2002-2015 surveys.

11

Figure 5. Composition of prey species of common minke whales sampled during the 2016 JARPN II
coastal survey off Kushiro, with results of the previous 2002-2015 surveys.

Figure 6. Sexual maturity and body length frequency of common minke whales by their prey species
found in forestomach in the 2016 JARPN II coastal survey off Kushiro.

12

Figure 7. Sighting positions of common minke whales collected during the 2016 JARPN II coastal survey off
Kushiro, shown by their maturity stage and prey species. Walleye Pollock (gray triangle), Japanesesardine (gray circle), mackerel (black circle), and empty (white circle). Isobaths are 100m, 200m,
and 1000m.

13

Figure 8.

SST recorded off Kushiro, derived from AVHRR of NOAA satellite system (http://www.suigi.pref.iwate.jp/index/siteprev).

14