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Cruise Report of the Second Phase of the Japanese Whale
Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic(JARPA II) in 2008/2009
SHIGETOSHI NISHIWAKI1), TOMOYUKI OGAWA2), KOJI MATSUOKA1), TAKEHARU BANDO1), TOSHIHIRO MOGOE1),
SEIJI OTANI1), KENJI KONISHI1), HITOMI SATO1), KAZUYOSHI NAKAI1), IDUMI NOMURA1), HARUKI TANAKA3),
HIROSHI KIWADA1), MASAKATSU MORI2), MASAOMI TSUNEKAWA2), ATSUSHI WADA1), ISAMU YOSHIMURA2), SHIROYONEZAKI1), MASAHIKO NAGAMINE2), KYOSUKE YOSHIDA, KAZUKI FUKUTOME2), KAZU, TAMAHASHI2), GINJI
MORINE2), AND TAKASHI YOSHIDA1)
Contact e-mail: nisiwaki@cetacean.jp
1) The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5 Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055 Japan.
2) Kyodo Senpaku Kaisya, Ltd., 4-5 Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055 Japan.
3) National Fisheries University, Ｄepartment of Applied Aquabiology, 2-7-1, Nagatahonmachi, Shimonoseki,
Yamaguchi, 759-6595, JapanKEYWORDS: ANTARCTIC MINKE WHALES; FIN WHALES; HUMPBACK WHALES; BALEENWHALES; ANTARCTIC; SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE; SCIENTIFIC PERMITS
ABSTRACTDuring the 2008/09 austral summer season, the Second Phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under theSpecial Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA II) was conducted following the full-scale research plan. Two dedicatedsighting vessels (SVs), three sighting and sampling vessels (SSVs) and one research base ship were engaged in the
research for 103 days from 10 December 2008 to 22 March 2009 in the Area V (130°E -170°W) and western partof Area VI (170°W - 145°W). The total searching distance was 14,351.45 n.miles and the following species weresighted: Antarctic minke, blue, fin, sei, humpback, southern right, sperm and southern bottlenose whales. The
Antarctic minke whale 1,973 schools (4,883 individuals) were the dominant species. Out of 700 schools (1,553
individuals) in the primary sightings of Antarctic minke whales by SSVs, 642 schools (1,339 individuals) weretargeted for sampling. A total of 679 individuals was sampled. Out of 34 schools (111 individuals) in the primarysightings of fin whales by SSVs, 1 school (1 individual) was targeted and sampled. The body length of this fin
whale was 14.79m (immature female). Photo-id experiments were conducted on blue and humpback whales and a
total of 50 animals was photographed. A total of 14 skin biopsy samples was collected from fin and humpback
whales. EPCS (Electric Particle Counting and Sizing System) survey was conducted for 83 days by SV. SVs
conducted the quantitative echo sounder survey for 164 days and IKMT and NORPAC net sampling 46 and 46
times, respectively in the whole research area. CTD and XCTD castings were conducted at 160 and 43 locations,
respectively. The main results of the survey were as follows: 1) Whale composition in the research area was stablecompared to previous surveys. Antarctic minke whale was dominant, humpback was second and fin whale wasthird. 2) The ice-free extent of the Ross Sea was substantially larger than in past seasons. High density areas ofAntarctic minke whales were observed in the Ross Sea and Area VI West. The Density index of this species washigher than the latest two surveys, 3) Mature male of Antarctic minke was dominant in Area VI West which was
surveyed for the first time in January, which contrast with the Ross sea, 4) fin whales were widely distributed in
the northern and southern strata and large schools were observed in Area V. Stomach content of fin whales
sampled was 300 kg of krills, 5) Humpback whales were widely distributed in the research area and density index
was higher than the last survey. The research activity in part of Areas V and VI West was interrupted several times
by violent actions of an anti-whaling group over 16 days.
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INTRODUCTION
The Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA) was conducted between
1987/88 and 2004/05 austral summer seasons, under Article VIII of the International Convention for the
Regulation of Whaling. JARPA provided a wide variety of information on biological parameters of Antarctic
minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) such as the natural mortality coefficient and changes over time in the age
at maturity as well as narrowing down the parameters of relevance for stock management (IWC, 1998,
Anonymous, 2005). JARPA also elucidated that there were at least two stocks of Antarctic minke whales in the
research area but their geographical boundaries were different from those used for the IWC Areas (Pastene, 2006).
Further, JARPA found that pollutant concentration in whale’s tissues, such as heavy metals and PCBs, wasextremely low (Yasunaga et al, 2006). JARPA has thus successfully obtained data related to the initially proposed
objectives (IWC, 2008).
Based on these considerations, the Government of Japan launched a new comprehensive study under theSecond Phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA II),combining lethal and non-lethal methods, starting from the 2005/2006 austral summer season. The research planfor the JARPA II was presented to the 2005 meeting of the IWC/SC. The research methods for the JARPA II arebasically the same as the previous JARPA with some modifications. The program involves both non-lethal
research techniques such as sighting surveys, biopsy sampling, acoustic surveys for prey species and the collectionof oceanographic data, and lethal sampling since collection of certain information, of vital importance to theoverall study, requires examination of internal organs such as ovaries, earplugs and stomachs. The first two
seasons (2005/2006 and 2006/2007) were dedicated to feasibility studies. Evaluation of two feasibility studies
concluded that the practicability and appropriateness of the planned sighting and sampling methods were adequate
and could be used to cover the entire research area under normal conditions (Government of Japan, 2007).
Therefore Japan decided to execute the original plan of JARPA II. A comprehensive review will be conductedfollowing completion of the first 6 years of the research (Government of Japan. 2005).
The full-scale JARPA II started from the 2007/08 season. It is a long-term research program with thefollowing objectives: 1) Monitoring of the Antarctic ecosystem, 2) Modeling interaction among whale species anddeveloping future management objectives, 3) Elucidation of temporal and spatial changes in stock structure and 4)
Improving the management procedure for the Antarctic minke whale stocks. JARPA II focuses on Antarctic minke
whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), fin whale (B. physalus) andpossibly other species in the Antarctic ecosystem that are major predators of Antarctic krill. Annual sample sizes
for the full-scale research (lethal sampling) are 850 (with 10% of allowance) Antarctic minke whales (Eastern
Indian Ocean and Western South Pacific Stocks), 50 humpback whales (D and E-Stocks) and 50 fin whales (Indian
Ocean and the Western South Pacific Stocks). During the feasibility study, the annual sample size was 850+-10%
Antarctic minke and ten fin whales. Humpback whales are not sampled during the feasibility study. This is a cruise
report of the 2008/09 JARPA II. During this season, as was the case last year, the survey area could not be covered
completely and the number of whale sample was reduced as a result of the violent actions of an anti-whaling groupover 16 days. However, most of other research items were completed and valuable data and samples wereobtained.
RESEARCH METHODS
Research vessels
The research fleet was composed of two dedicated sighting vessels, three sighting and sampling vessels and one
research base ship. Following vessels were used.
Research base ship
Nisshin-Maru (NM; 8,044 tons)2SC / 61 / O3
Dedicated sighting vessels (SVs)
Kyoshin-Maru No. 2 (KS2; 372 tons)
Kaiko-Maru (KK1; 860.25 tons)
Sighting and sampling vessels (SSVs)
Yushin-Maru (YS1; 720 tons)
Yushin-Maru No.2 (YS2; 747 tons)
Yushin-Maru No.3 (YS3; 742 tons)
Two SVs were dedicated to the sighting survey, prey species survey, oceanographic survey and most of the various
experiments. Three SSVs were engaged in sighting and sampling surveys. NM served as a research base on which
all biological examinations of sampled whales were conducted.
Research area and ice edge
The area covered by JARPA II is basically same as JARPA; the eastern part of Area III, Areas IV and V, and thewestern part of Area VI (35°E - 145°W), south of 60°S. In this season, JARPA II surveyed the Eastern Indian
Ocean Stock and the Western South Pacific Ocean Stock of Antarctic minke whales (Pastene, 2006) in alongitudinal span of 85° on the eastern side of the JARPA II research area (130°E - 145°W). Figure.1 shows
geographic location of the research area for the 2008/2009 JARPAII survey.
For this survey, our best estimate of the position of the ice edge was based on our visual and radarobservations of the ice edge as well as satellite predictions. The satellite predictions were from near real time
DMSP SSM/I daily polar griddled sea ice concentration data set available from the National Snow and Ice Data
Center (NSIDC, Cavalieri et al, 1999). In this season, the ice-free extent of the Ross Sea was substantially larger
than previous surveys (See Appendix A).
Survey track line design
The survey track line for the SVs consisted of two legs in the northern stratum at 5° longitudinal
degree intervals and four legs in the southern stratum for 2°30’ longitudinal degree intervals. Two
SVs alternately survey the northern and southern strata each crossing the track line at the veering
point between two strata. The survey track line for the SSVs consisted of a zigzag course changing direction at
2°30’ or 1°40’ longitudinal degree intervals. Three parallel track lines were set at 7 n. miles apart. The two legs of
track line for the northern stratum were set every six legs for the southern stratum, in principle. The interval of legs
and number of legs for the northern stratum could be changed by sub-area according to progress of the survey.
However, in this season, due to the interference the SSVs canceled the research in the northern part of Areas V and
VIW.
The longitudinal interval and number of the survey track line in the sub-research area
The longitudinal interval and number of teeth in the unit of survey track line in each sub research area were as
follows:
1) The western part of Area V (including west of 170°E in the eastern part of Area V)
The research area was south of 60°S and from 170°E to 130°E. The starting points of SVs were at 130°E. The
survey track line was set zigzag in north and south to eastward. The longitudinal interval of one leg of survey
track line was 1° 40’ for SSVs in south strata, and 5 ° in north stratum and 2° 30’ in south stratum for SVs. SVs
surveyed in order of one tooth (two legs) in the north stratum and two teeth (four legs) in the south stratum.
2) The western part of Area VI
The research area was south of 60°S and from 145°W to 170°W. The starting points of the SVs and SSVs were3

SC / 61 / O3
at 145°W. The survey track line was set zigzag in north and south to westward. The longitudinal interval of one
leg of survey track line was 1° 40’ for the SSVs in south strata, and 5 ° in north stratum and 2°30’ of south
stratum for the SVs. SVs surveyed in order of one tooth (two legs) in the north stratum and two teeth (four legs)in the south stratum.
3) The eastern part of Area V
East-North stratum
The research area ranged from 60°S to 69°S and from 170°W to 170°E. The starting points of the SVs were at
170°W. The survey track line was set zigzag in north and south to westward between 170°W to 170°E. The
longitudinal interval of each tooth (two legs) of the survey track line was 5° for SVs. In the range between
170°E and 165°E, the same design of survey track line was continued from that of the western part of Area V.
East-South stratum (Ross Sea)
The research area was south of 69°S between 165°E to 170°W (including west of 165°E and east of 170°W in
the inner part of the Ross Sea). The starting and ending points of SVs and SSVs were at 69°S. The survey trackline was set zigzag in north and south to westward or eastward in the Ross Sea. The longitudinal interval of thesurvey track line for SSVs and SVs was 10°. The start point of the longitudinal line in the survey track line wasset by the random selection. This longitudinal interval of survey track line was adjusted corresponding to the iceedge line which changed remarkably through the research period.
Sighting method
Sighting procedures were the same as in the previous JARPA surveys (Nishiwaki et al. 1999, Ishikawa et al. 2000).
The sighting surveys by SSVs were conducted under limited closing mode (when a sighting of Antarctic minke
and fin whales were made on the predetermined track line, the vessel approached the whales and confirmed
species and school size). Three SSVs advanced along parallel track lines 7 n.miles apart, at a standard speed of
11.5 knots. The sighting surveys by SVs were conducted under limited closing mode and passing mode (even if
sighting was made on the predetermined track line, the vessel did not approach the whales directly and searchingfrom the barrel was uninterrupted) at a standard speed of 10.5 knots.
The survey was operated under optimal research conditions (i.e., the wind speed below 25 knot in the south
strata and 20 knot in the north strata, and visibility further than 1.5 n.miles). In addition to the sighting of Antarctic
minke and fin whales or whales suspected to be those species, the SVs approached blue (B. musculus), humpback,southern right (Eubalaena australis), pigmy right (Caperea marginata), sei (B.borealis), sperm (Physeter
macrocehpalus) and southern bottlenose (Hyperoodon planifrons) whales for conducting some experiments. The
SSVs also approached the same whale species for experiments while they engaged in sighting survey.
Sampling method
Three SSVs were engaged in sampling survey. Sampling of 850 Antarctic minke whales (with 10 % allowance)and 50 fin whales was planned in the research area south of 62°S. One to two Antarctic minke whales were
sampled randomly from each primary sighted school within 3 n.miles of the track line. The dwarf form minke
whales were not a target for sampling. Sampling of fin whales was restricted to those animals with an estimatedbody length less than 18m due to the limitation of NM facility for pulling up the animal onboard. One fin whale
smaller than 18m was sampled from each primary sighted school within 3 n.miles of the track line. If two or moreanimals smaller than 18m were found in the single school, then only one of them was randomly selected.
Low and middle latitudinal sighting survey
During transit, sighting surveys were conducted in the area between 30°S and 60°S except for the areas within
national EEZs. The results of these surveys are not shown in this report.

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Biological research
Most of the biological research methods used in this JARPA II survey were developed and improved during the
JARPA 18 year research period. Biological research including scaling body weight on all sampled whales was
conducted on the NM.
Experiments
Sighting distance and angle experimentThis experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the accuracy of the information on sighting distance andsighting angle given by observers of the SVs and SSVs.
Photo-identification experiment
The following species were targeted for photographic record of natural markings by SVs and SSVs: blue,
humpback and southern right whales.
Biopsy sampling
In addition to the species targeted for the photo-identification experiment, pygmy right, fin, sei, sperm, southernbottlenose whales were targeted for biopsy skin sampling by the SVs and SSVs using compound-crossbows. All
collected sample were preserved at –80°C.
Satellite tagging
The YS1 and the YS2 attempted satellite tag attachment on Antarctic minke and humpback whales.
Preliminary prey species survey
Prey species (krill) samples were collected using the Isaacs-Kidd Mid water trawl (IKMT) on the KK1.
Oceanographic and acoustic survey
SVs and SSVs conducted the following oceanographic surveys.
1) Consecutive measurements of surface temperature, conductivity, surface chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen, surface
particle using the Electric Particle Counting and Sizing System (EPCS) on KS2.
2) XCTD and CTD casting by KK1 and KS2.
3) Record of marine debris in the research area by KK1 and KS2. In addition all marine debris found in thestomach of Antarctic minke whales was recorded on NM.
4) Hydro-acoustic survey using a scientific echo sounder (EK500 with operating frequencies at 38kHz, 120kHz,
200kHz, SIMRAD, Norway) to study distribution and abundance of prey species of baleen whales.
Hydro-acoustic survey was conducted by KS2 and KK1 along sighting survey through the whole research area.
In addition to these surveys, KK1 deployed Argo profiling floats (profiling devices) to collect high quality
oceanographic data of upper and middle layers of the world ocean simultaneously with very highspace-time resolution. This was done in cooperation with Japan Marine Science and Technology Center(JAMSTEC) (See http://w3.jamstec.go.jp/ARGO/J_ARGOe.html).

RESULTS
Outline of the cruise
SVs departed from Shiogama (Japan) on 14 November and started Antarctic sighting survey in the research areaon 10 December. SSVs and NM departed from Shimonoseki and Innoshima, respectively on 17 November andstarted Antarctic sighting and sampling surveys in the research area on 10 December.
The Antarctic research period of this cruise was 103 days from 10 December 2008 to 22 March 2009. The
research activity was interrupted for 16 days due to violent interference by the Sea Shepherd. Due to this5SC / 61 / O3
interference SSVs canceled the research in the northern part of Areas V and VIW and a part of the Ross Sea.
SV (KS2) arrived at Tokyo on 7 April. And SV (KK1) arrived at Shiogama on 9 April. SSVs and NM arrived
at Shimonoseki on 13 April and 14 April, respectively.
Results of non-lethal survey
Sighting survey and whale species sighted
The total searching distances were 14,351.45 n.miles consisting of 7,621.76 n.miles for the two SVs and 6,729.69
n.miles for the three SSVs. Ten species were identified during the research period. Table 1 shows the number ofsightings during the survey. The following six species of baleen whales were confirmed; Antarctic minke, blue, fin,sei, humpback and southern right whales, and two toothed whale species were confirmed; sperm, southernbottlenose whales (Table 1).
Antarctic minke whales were the most abundant species in the whole research area. The number of totalsightings of Antarctic minke whales by five research vessels was 1,973 schools (4,883 individuals). In addition
418 schools (735 individuals) of humpback whales, 122 schools (491 individuals) of fin whales, 77 schools (91individuals) of sperm whales, 32 schools (61 individuals) of southern bottlenose whales, 15 schools (30individuals) of blue whales, 5 schools (7 individuals) of sei whales and one school (one individual) of southern
right whale were observed.
Geographical distribution, density index (DI) and mean school size (MSS)
1) Antarctic minke whales
The distribution of sightings of the Antarctic minke whales by SVs is shown in Figure 2. They were widelydistributed throughout the entire research area. A high concentration area was confirmed in the East-South stratum(Ross Sea) and Western part of Area VI. Table 2 shows density indices (DI; number of schools sighted/ 100
n.miles searching distance) and mean school size (MSS) of two SV’s primary sightings of this species by stratum.
For the whole research area, DI and MSS for SVs were 15.35 and 2.66, respectively (Table 2).
2) Fin whales
Fin whales were widely distributed throughout the whole research area except south of 69o S. A high concentration
area was confirmed between 140o and 165oE, and 180o-150oW (Figure 3). In the western part of Area V, they weresighted near the ice edge. Large schools (35 individuals and 55 individuals) were observed in East-North andWest-South stratum in Area V. For the whole research area, DI and MSS for SVs were 0.98 and 4.39, respectively.
The DI of the West-South stratum in Area V was high (2.51) compare to other strata (Table 2).
3) Humpback whales
Humpback whales were widely distributed throughout the whole research area except south of 70o S. A highconcentration area was confirmed between 130oE and 140oE, and 160oE-170oE in the western part of Area V(Figure 3). These sightings overlapped with those of Antarctic minke whales but humpback whales were rarely
observed in the Ross Sea (south of 69oS) where Antarctic minke whales were highly concentrated For the whole
research area, DI and MSS for SVs of this species were 2.44 and 1.80, respectively.
4) Blue whales
Blue whales were mainly distributed in the southern part of the research area, especially in the Ross Sea (Figure 3).
Most southern sighting was 74oS in the Ross Sea.
5) Southern right whale
This species was observed (65o-39S, 145o-53E) as mixed school with one humpback whale in Area V. This is raresighting since this species is sighted mainly in Area IV.

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6) Sperm and southern bottlenose whales
Sperm whales were widely distributed throughout the research area except south of 70oS. They were distributed in
the area outside of the continental slope. A large school (14 large males) of this species was observed (64o-11S,
157o-00E) in a small sea ice area within the pack ice. This is a very rare sighting in the JARPA and JARPA II
surveys. Southern bottlenose whales were widely distributed in the whole northern part of the research area.
(Figure 4).
Photo-ID and biopsy sampling
Table 3 summarizes the results of the photo-ID experiment. It was conducted throughout the entire research area.
A total of 50 targeted individuals were photographed (11 blue whales and 39 humpback whales). Table 4summarizes the results of biopsy sampling. A total of 14 skin biopsy samples were collected from fin whale (n=1)
and humpback whales (n=13).
Prey species and oceanographic survey
Table 5 shows a summary of acoustic and oceanographic surveys. KS2 and KK1 conducted a quantitative echosounder survey which ranged over 83 days by KS2 and 81 days by KK1 in the whole research area. KK1 also
conducted sampling of prey species (Krill) by the IKMT and NORPAC-net at 46 locations in the whole researcharea (Figure 5).CTD and XCTD castings conducted at 106 and 43 locations, respectively (Figure 6). EPCS survey
was conducted for 83 days by KS2.
Survey for the marine debris
The marine debris survey was carried out concomitant with the sighting survey of the SVs in all research areas. A
total of 25 items were found.
Sighting distance and angle experiment
A sighting distance and angle experiment was preformed on 20 January 2009 by YS1 and YS3, 28 January 2009by KS2, 1 February 2009 by KK1, and 23 February 2009 by YS2. The results of this experiment will be used inestimating abundance.
Attachment of the Satellite tag for whales
YS2 attempted the attachment of a satellite tag on one school of humpback whale (1 animal) on 20 March 2009.
However, technical problems with the transmission antenna were found with this attachment.
Results of lethal survey
Sampling of Antarctic minke whales and fin whales
1) Antarctic minke whales
Out of 700 schools (1,553 individuals) primarily sighted by SSVs, 642 schools (1,339 individuals) were targeted
for sampling. A total of 679 animals were sampled (295 in Area VI-SW, 240 in Area V-SE (Ross Sea) and 144 in
Area V-SW). Struck and lost occurred in one case. Due to interruption of sampling activity of SSVs, samples from
northern strata and a northern part of the Ross Sea were not collected.
2) Fin whales
Out of 34 schools (111 individuals) primarily sighted by SSVs, 1 school (1 individual) in Area V-SW was targeted
and sampled (see DISCUSSIONS). No struck and lost occurred.
Biological research
Biological research was conducted on the research base ship for all whales sampled. Table 6 summarizes research
items conducted for the sampled Antarctic minke and fin whales.

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Preliminary analyses of biological information
1) Antarctic minke whales
Of 679 samples of Antarctic minke whales, Table 7 shows the reproductive status of samples, by stratum. Figure 7
shows the sighted position of sampled whales, by sex and reproductive status. The collected samples were 144
individuals in the western part of Area V, 240 individuals in the East-South stratum (Ross Sea) and 295 in theWestern part of Area VI. The ratio of males, in the West-South stratum in Area V was 58.3 %, 35.4 % in the
East-South (Ross Sea) and 69.8 % in the West-South in Area VI.
The mature males were widely distributed throughout the whole research areas. Mature males were dominant
in the Western part of Area VI. Some immature males were sampled (3.3%) in the northern part of the East-Southstratum (Ross Sea) in Area V.
Females were also widely distributed throughout the whole research area. Mature pregnant females were
dominant (54.2%) in the East-South stratum (Ross Sea) in Area V. Females constituted 44.8 % of the collected
samples and the pregnancy rate of mature females was 96.0 % for the whole research area. One set of conjoined
male twin fetuses of this species was collected. This is a second such observation for this species (Zinchenko andIvashin, 1987). Maximum length of this species was 9.44 m for males and 9.79 m for females; minimum length
was 5.15m and 4.96m, respectively.
2) Fin whales
The body length of the collected fin whale of this season was 14.79 m. This animal was an immature female, andthe smallest animal of this species taken during the 2005/06 to 2008/09 JARPA II surveys. About 300 kg of krills
was observed from the stomach contents of this animal.

DISCUSSION
This fourth cruise of JARPAII was planned as the second full-scale research after two feasibility research cruises(Government of Japan, 2005). As the Government of Japan decided to suspend sampling of 50 humpback whales,
target species and numbers for lethal sampling were 850 ± 85 Antarctic minke whales and 50 fin whales. However,preventing collisions with vessels of a violent and obstructive anti-whaling group and ensuring the safety of crew
and vessels, resulted in a suspension of research activity for 16 days. Due to the reduction in the number of
research days, sampling activity of SSVs was restricted and could not cover the whole research area. However, inspite of the restricted survey, the 2008/09 JARPAII cruise obtained many important results summarized as follows:
1) Antarctic minke whales were the dominant species sighted in this survey (1,973 schools and 4,883 individuals).
Second and third dominant species were humpback (418 schools and 735 individuals) and fin 122 schools and 491
individuals) whales. This species composition was the same as in previous surveys. This indicates that the whale
species composition in Area V and VI West were stable compare to the Area IV where it was recently reported
that humpback whale sightings were dominant and the number of sightings of this species increased year by year
(Ishikawa et al., 2008). This information is useful for the monitoring of the Antarctic ecosystem.
2) The ice-free extent of the Ross Sea was substantially larger than that of previous surveys (Appendix A). Highdensity areas of Antarctic minke whales were observed in the Ross Sea and Area VI West. The Density index ofthis species (32.24 whales / 100 n.miles) was higher than that of the latest two surveys (2004/05: 14.44, 2006/07:
17.99). The mean school size of this species (3.00) was also higher than that of the latest two surveys (2004/05:
2.07, 2006/07: 2.05). For the improvement of the management of whales in the Antarctic, elucidation of the year toyear changes of habitat and their prey of Antarctic minke whales in the Ross Sea is necessary.
3) Antarctic minke whales were widely distributed throughout the entire research area although the 679 samples

8SC / 61 / O3
showed segregation by sex and reproductive status. Mature pregnant females were dominant in the Ross Sea(East-South stratum) and mature males and immature animals were concentrated in the western part of Area VI.
This information is useful for the elucidation of temporal and spatial changes in stock structure and for improving
the management procedure for the Antarctic minke whale stocks.
4) Of 111 primary sighted fin whales by SSVs, one fin whale was targeted and collected, although 50 whales wereplanned for the sampling. One of the reasons for the limited sampling of fin whales was interruptions of sampling
activity of the SSVs, and another was logistics. 110 sightings of fin whales by SSVs were not targeted forsampling due to inappropriate sea conditions for safe transferring and flensing and/or practical works.
5) Highest density index (DI) of humpback (7.68 whales / 100 n.miles) and fin (2.98 whales / 100 n.miles) whales
were observed in the southern part of Area V West. High rates of increase for these species were also reported inrecent surveys (Matsuoka et al., 2006, Branch, 2007). The present result is consistent with these reports. For the
improvement of the management of whales in the Antarctic, elucidation of the interactions between humpback, fin
and Antarctic minke whales related to their habitat and prey is necessary.
6) Two SVs succeeded in covering almost all of the research area. A full scale prey species survey and several
oceanographic surveys as well as the sighting survey were conducted successfully including photo-ID and biopsy
sampling. It is expected that estimation of consumption of prey species by whales in the Antarctic will become
more accurate by combining the results of the acoustic and net sampling surveys by the SV and stomach contents
study of whales by the NM. Comparing the stomach contents and net samples is important to understandpreference of whales for prey species. Combination of lethal and non-lethal methods is necessary to elucidate therole of whales in the Antarctic ecosystem.

ACKNOWLEDEGMENTS
We are indebted to Dr. Minoru Morimoto, director-general of the ICR, Dr. Yoshihiro Fujise, director of ICR and
Mr. Shigeki Takaya of the government of Japan for implementation of the research. We thank research technicians,
Messrs. Keiji Itaura, Tatsuo Sasaki, Teppei Hattori and Hiroshi Ichijo of Kyodo Senpaku Kaisya Ltd. for theircontribution. Mr. Mikio Mizoguchi of the Government of Japan, served as onboard inspector. We are also indebted
to all the Captains and their officers and crew as well as to colleagues of the ICR and other institutions who
participated in the research for their contributions. Finally, we are very grateful to Dan Goodman for his English
advice.

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REFERENCES
Anon. 2005. Report of the Review Meeting of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the
Antarctic (JARPA) called by the Government of Japan, Tokyo, 18-20 January 2005. 24pp.
Branch, T.A. 2007. Humpback abundance south of 60°S from three complete circumpolar sets of surveys. Paper
SC/59/ForInfo25 submitted to the IWC Scientific Committee, 2007 (unpublished). 25pp. [Available from the
Office of this Journal].
Cavalieri, D., P. Gloerson and J. Zwally. 1999, updated regularly. Near real-time DMSP SSM/I daily polar
griddled sea ice concentrations. Edited by J. Maslanik and J. Stroeve. Boulder, CO: National Snow and Ice Data
Center. Digital media.
Government of Japan. 2005. Plan for the Second Phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special
Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA II) -Monitoring of the Antarctic Ecosystem and Development of New
Management Objectives for Whale Resources. Paper SC/57/O1 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, Jun
2005 (unpublished). 99pp. [Available from the Office of this Journal].
Ishikawa, H., Goto, M., Ogawa, T., Bando, T., Kiwada, H., Isoda, T., Kumagai, S., Mori, M., Ohsawa, T.,
Fukutome, K., Koyanagi, T., Kandabashi, S., Kawabe, S., Sotomura, N., Matsukura, R., Kato, K., Matsumoto,A., Nakai, K., Hasegawa, M., Mori, T., Yoshioka, S. and Yoshida, T., Cruise Report of the Second Phase of theJapanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPAⅡ) in 2007/2008. Paper
SC/60/O4 submitted to the IWC Scientific Committee, 2008 (unpublished). 19pp. [Available from the Office of
this Journal].
IWC. 1998. Report of the Intersessional Working Group to Review Data and Results from Special Permit
Research on Minke Whales in the Antarctic, Tokyo, 12-16 may 1997. SC/49/Rep.1. 377-390. REP. INT.
COMMN 48, 1998.
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Minke Whales in the Antarctic, Tokyo 4-8 December 2006. J. Cetacean. Res. Manage. (Suppl.) 10: 411-445.
Matsuoka, K., T. Hakamada, H. Kiwada, H. Murase and S. Nishiwaki. 2006. Distributions and standardized
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(unpublished). 33pp. [Available from the Office of this Journal].
Nishiwaki, S., Ishikawa, H., & Fujise, Y. 2007. Review of general methodology and survey procedure under the
JARPA. IWC Paper SC/D06/J2. [Available from the Office of this Journal].
Pastene, L.A. 2006. What do we know about the stock structure of the Antarctic minke whale ? A summary ofstudies and hypotheses. Paper SC/D06/J12 presented to the JARPA Review meeting, December 2006. 24pp.
[Available from the Office of this Journal].
Yasunaga, G., Fujise, Y., Zenitani, R., Honda, K. and Kato, H. 2006. Yearly trend of trace element accumulationin liver of Antarctic minke whales, Balaenoptera bonaerensis. Paper SC/D06/J28 presented to the JARPA
Review meeting, December 2006. 23pp. [Available from the Office of this Journal].
Zinchenko V.L. and Ivashin, M.V., 1987. Siamese twins of minke whales of the southern hemisphere. Sci Rep
Whales Res Inst 38: 165-169.

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Table 1. Summary of whale sightings by SVs and SSVs in the research area during 2008/09 JARPA II.
Species

Sch.

Ind.

Blue whale

15

30

Fin whale

122

491

Sei whale

5

7

1,973

4,883

Like Antarctic minke whale

72

171

Humpback whale

418

735

1

1

Unidentified Baleen whales

250

772

Sperm whale

77

91

Southern bottlenose whale

32

61

Antarctic minke whale

Southern Right whale

Table 2. The Density indices (DI, number of schools per 100 n.miles) and mean school size (MSS) of Antarctic
minke, fin and humpback whales by SV during 2008/09 JARPA II.
Area

SectorStratum

Antarctic Minke whale

EffortFin whale

Humpback whale[n.miles]

Sch.

Ind.

D.I.

M.S.S.

Sch.

Ind.

D.I.

M.S.S.

Sch.

Ind.

D.I.

M.S.S.

North

1,211.47

4

5

0.33

1.25

10

27

0.83

2.70

28

49

2.31

1.75

South

797.43

27

43

3.39

1.59

20

97

2.51

4.85

67

119

8.40

1.78

North

1,143.44

19

34

1.66

1.79

19

127

1.66

6.68

37

66

3.24

1.78

South
(RossSea)

2,757.76

889

2,667

32.24

3.00

0

0

---

---

6

12

0.22

2.00

North

721.57

3

3

0.42

1.00

12

40

1.66

3.33

28

59

3.88

2.11

South

990.09

228

363

23.03

1.59

14

38

1.41

2.71

20

29

2.02

1.45

7,621.76

1,170

3,115

15.35

2.66

75

329

0.98

4.39

186

334

2.44

1.80

West
V
East

VI

West

Total

11

SC / 61 / O3

Table 3.

Summary of photo-ID collected during 2008/09 JARPA II.
Area V

Area VI

West

East

West

Total

Species

North

South

North

RossSea

North

South

Blue whale

0

1

2

5

0

3

11

Humpback whale

1

29

5

0

0

4

39

Total

1

30

7

5

0

7

50

Table 4. Summary of biopsy samples collected during 2008/09 JARPA II.
Area V

Area VI

West

Table 5.

Total

North

South

North

RossSea

North

South

Fin whale

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

Humpback whale

1

10

2

0

0

0

13

Total

2

10

2

0

0

0

14

Summary of oceanographic survey, acoustic survey and plankton net sampling conducted during
2008/09 JARPA II.

West
V
East

VI

West

Species

EPCS(days)

Quantitive echosounder (days)

KS2

KS2

North

11

South

7

Vessels

Area

East

West
Total

CTD
(stations)

IKMT(stations)

NORPAC-Net(stations)

XCTD(stations)

KK1

KK1

KK1

KS2

KK1

KK1

11

14

5

5

12

6

2

6

10

4

4

4

4

0

North

16

16

18

13

13

10

11

17

RossSea

23

23

18

12

12

22

6

24

North

11

12

10

7

7

7

7

0

South

15

15

11

5

5

12

5

0

83

83

81

46

46

67

39

43

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SC / 61 / O3
Table 6. Summary of research items conducted for sampled Antarctic minke and fin whales.
Research item
Photographic record of external character
Body length and sex identification
Measurement of external body proportion
Body weight
Body weight by total weight of parts
Skull measurement (length and breadth)Standard measurement of blubber thickness
Observation of lactation status
Measurement of mammary grandTestis weight
Weight of stomach content
Diatom film observation
Blood plasma for physiological study
Earplug for age determination
Ocular lens for age determination
Tympanic bulla for chemical analysis
Largest baleen plate for chemical analysis
Vertebral epiphyses for biological study
Observation and collection of ovary
Histological sample of endometrium
Histological sample of mammary gland
Milk sample for chemical study
Histological sample of testis
Tissue samples for genetic study
Blubber, muscle and liver tissues for environmental monitoring
Lung and liver tissues for environmental monitoring
Gross pathological observation (thyroid, lung, stomach and gonad)
Tissues for histopathological study
Tissues for various study
Tissues for lipid analysis
Tissues for nutritional component study
Tissues for chemical study
Tissues for nutrient study
Stomach contents for food and feeding study
Stomach contents for environmental monitoring
Samples of internal and external parasites
Photographic record of fetus
Fetal length and weight
Fetal ocular lens for age determination
Fetal skin for genetic study
Tissues for functional food study
Tissue samples for constraction of monitoring system of infectious disease
Fetal sample for clarification of jaw opening mechanism
Fetal sample for clarification of hind-limb disappearance mechanism
1)

including fetus of sex unidentified.

13

Antarctic minke
Male Female Total
375
303
678
375
304
679
375
304
679
375
304
679
6
3
9
357
288
645
375
304
679
304
304
304
304
375
375
362
288
650
375
304
679
375
300
675
373
303
676
97
104
201
41
30
71
373
303
676
322
232
554
304
304
7
7
304
304
2
2
375
375
375
304
679
375
304
679
20
20
40
375
304
679
50
45
95
3
3
6
0
1
1
43
30
73
13
8
21
3
3
6
1)
91
98
195
1)
91
98
195
27
41
68
1)
90
98
193
2
4
6
6
3
9
1
1
2
1)
2

Male
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-

Fin
Female
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
-

Total
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
-

SC / 61 / O3
Table 7. Reproductive status of Antarctic minke whales sampled in 2008/09 JARPAII. Maturity of males wastentatively defined by testis weight according to Kato (1986). "Resting" represents non-pregnant mature
female without corpus luteum and "Ovulating" represents female that had corpus luteum but fetus was notobserved.
Male
Stratum
Area V West-SouthArea V East-South(Ross Sea)
Area VI West-South
Combined

FemaleMatureImmature Mature

Total Immature

25
17.4%
8
3.3%
49
16.6%
82
12.1%

84
58.3%
85
35.4%
206
69.8%
375
55.2%

59
41.0%
77
32.1%
157
53.2%
293
43.2%

29
20.1%
25
10.4%
50
16.9%
104
15.3%

No-pregnant
Pregnant
Ovulating Resting No-lactating Lactating
0
1
30
0
0.0%
0.7%
20.8%
0.0%
1
4
125
0
0.4%
1.7%
52.1%
0.0%
2
33
4
0.7%
0.0%
11.2%
1.4%
3
5
188
4
0.4%
0.7%
27.7%
0.6%

Total
60
41.7%
155
64.6%
89
30.2%
304
44.8%

Combined144
100.0%
240
100.0%
295
100.0%
679
100.0%

Figure 1. Geographic location of research area of the 2008/2009 JARPAII survey. Solid line shows the ice edgeline. Ice edge lines are estimated by observation from research vessels and the information from Near real time
DMSP SSM/I daily polar griddled sea ice concentration data set available from the National Snow and Ice Data
Center (NSIDC, Cavalieri et al. 1999).

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SC / 61 / O3

Figure 2. Distribution of primary sightings of Antarctic minke whales sighted with the searching effort by SVs in
2008/09 JARPAII.

Figure 3. Distribution of primary sightings of blue, fin, sei and humpback whales sighted with the searching effort
by SVs in 2008/09 JARPAII.

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SC / 61 / O3

Figure 4. Distribution of primary sightings of sperm and southern bottlenose whales sighted with the searchingeffort by SVs in 2008/09 JARPAII.

Figure 5. Geographical locations of NORPAC and IKMT net sampling (same positions) conducted by
SV/Kaiko-Maru, during 2008/09 JARPAII.

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SC / 61 / O3

Figure 6. Geographical locations of CTD and XCTD casting conducted by two SVs during 2008/09 JARPAII.

Figure 7. Distribution of sampled Antarctic minke whales by sex and sexual maturity status with the planned
cruise track line (main course: a solid line) in 2008/09 JARPAII.

17

SC / 61 / O3
Appendix A. Satellite sea ice information.
Ice-edge information from near real time DMSP SSM/I daily polar griddled sea ice concentration data set available
from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC, Cavalieri et al, 1999). See Figures A-C below for
examples of daily polar griddled sea ice concentration data using sea ice concentration categories (0-12%(whitecolored), 13-28%(blue), 29-44%(green), 45-60%(yellow), 61-80%(brown), 81-100%(red-purple) between January
and March in 2009.

Figure A (left: 1st January, right: 14 January).

Figure B (left: 30 January, right: 15 February).

Figure C (left: 1st March, right: 13 March).

18