MEDIA RELEASE
Designated Corporation for Scientific Whale Research
THE INSITUTE OF CETACEAN RESEARCH
September 24, 2020
Completion of the 2020 IWC/Japan Joint Cetacean Sighting Survey Cruise in the North Pacific– IWC POWER
1. Background
This survey is conducted jointly by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and Japan, and iscommonly referred to as IWC-POWER (International Whaling Commission/Pacific Ocean Whale andEcosystem Research). IWC-POWER is the successor of IWC/SOWER (International WhalingCommission Southern Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research), a successful whale research program
acclaimed globally, which was conducted in the Antarctic Ocean from 1996/1997 to 2009/2010. Taking
advantage of the know-how, experience and achievements of IWC/SOWER, IWC-POWER has been
carried out every summer since 2010 based on research priorities of the IWC Scientific Committee.
In the decade leading up to last year, the IWC-POWER research cruises have covered a wide area of theNorth Pacific that had not been surveyed for a several decades after the adoption of so-called “Moratoriumon commercial whaling, finding large numbers of fin and sei whales in the Gulf of Alaska area north of 40degrees north latitude and a large number of Bryde’s whales and sperm whales in waters south of 40
degrees N, and valuable data have been collected to contribute to objective stock assessment. In addition,
information on rare species such as blue whales and right whales have also been collected.
As the 11th cruise, this time we conducted a survey of the high seas in the western North Pacific excluding
foreign exclusive economic zones within 40 degrees north latitude and between 160 east longitude and 180
degrees. Initially, two U.S. researchers were planned to board the research vessel, but they were unable toparticipate this year due to restrictions on entry into Japan to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
For this reason, only Japanese researchers participated in the survey, and the survey was carried out
according to the plan without any major problems.

2. Outline of the 2020 Research Cruise and Summary of Results
The 2020 IWC-POWER research cruise was conducted collaboratively by the IWC and the Government ofJapan. The IWC Scientific Committee has developed the research program and established theIWC-POWER Steering Group (Convenor: Koji Matsuoka, Head, Stock Assessment and ManagementDivision, ICR), which has a role of designing the research plan and analyzing the results of the cruises. TheInstitute of Cetacean Research, under the commission of the Fisheries Agency of Japan, carried out thesurvey in cooperation with various research organizations including the Fisheries Resources ResearchInstitute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, the Tokyo University of Marine Science andTechnology and NOAA/NMFS, USA.
This year’s survey plan outline and summary of results are as follows. The results are compiled as of 14
September 2020. Many fin, sei, humpback and sperm whales were sighted in the research area, again
suggesting the robustness of the stocks. In particular, a large number of blue whales were sighted in thelatter half of the survey, suggesting that the stock is recovering well. On the other hand, no right whales
were sighted. In addition, individual identification photographs were taken and biopsy samples werecollected for DNA analysis.
Details of the survey results will be presented at next year’s IWC Scientific Committee annual meeting andother scientific meetings.
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2.1 Main Objectives(1) Collection of information for the in-depth stock assessment of sei whales, humpback whales and graywhales.
(2) Collection of information on the rare western North Pacific right and blue whales.
(3) Collection of data on abundance and stock structure of other whale resources with insufficient resource
information.
(4) Collection of information necessary for the development of medium-to long-term plan of this research
program.
2.2 Research Cruise Period
From July 11 to September 24, 2020 (76 days).
2.3 Research Area
Waters excluding foreign exclusive economic zones north of 40 degrees north, east of 160 degrees east
longitude and west of 180 degrees (Figure 1).
In the middle of the survey, we called at Kushiro Port to get on board international researchers, equipment
and to refuel.
2.4 International Researchers
Cruise first half (11 July – 17 August):
Koji Matsuoka (Cruise leader, Institute of Cetacean Research, Japan)
Isamu Yoshimura (IWC-nominated international researcher, Japan)
Taiki Katsumata (Institute of Cetacean Research, Japan)
Cruise second half (20 August – 24 September):
Hiroto Murase (Cruise leader, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Japan)
Taiki Katsumata (Institute of Cetacean Research, Japan)
Soya Fujii (Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Japan)
2.5 Research Vessel
Yushin-Maru No. 2, (747 tons, Captain Nobuo Abe, 17 crewmen)
2.6 Total Distance Covered
2,424.1 nautical miles (approximately 4,489 km)
2.7 Main whale sightings
Blue whale (22 groups, 31 animals), fin whale (29 groups, 32 animals), sei whale (131 groups, 181animals), Bryde’s whale (6 groups, 8 animals), humpback whale (7 groups, 8 animals), Common minke
whale (3 groups, 3 animals), sperm whale (56 groups, 90 animals), killer whale (18 groups, 71 animals).
2.8 Results of sample collections, etc.
(1) Photo identification data (number of individuals)
Blue whale: 26 animals, fin whale: 1 animal, humpback whale: 3 animals, killer whale: 19 animals (total49 individuals).
(2) Collection of biopsy samples (number of individuals)
Blue whale: 13 animals, fin whale: 9 animals, sei whale: 38 animals, Bryde’s whale: 1 animal, humpback
whale: 2 animals, killer whale: 2 animals (total 65 individuals).
(3) Whale sound recording
We did not conduct whale sound recording because the U.S. experts in charge were unable to board theresearch vessel this time.
2Fig. 1. 2020 IWC-POWER survey area (blue).

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Photographs from the 2020 IWC-POWER cruisea) Biopsy sample collection from blue whaled) Killer whale dorsal finb) Biopsy sample collection from sei whalee) View of a biopsy sample collection experimentfrom the upper bridgec) Humpback whale caudal fin (ventral side)f) Yushin-Maru No. 2 crewmen and researchers(Kushiro Port)

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