Cruise Report of the Second Phase of the Japanese
Whale Research Program under Special Permit in theWestern North Pacific (JARPNII) in 2015 (part I) –Offshore component –TAKEHARU BANDO1), TATSUYA ISODA1), KAZUYOSHI NAKAI1), HITOMI SATO1), YUTA OKITSU1), MASAOMITSUNEKAWA2), KENSUKE FUJII2), MASAHIRO YAMASAKI2), HIDETO HONMA2) AND HIROSHI EGUCHI2)
1) Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0055, Japan,2) Kyodo Senpaku Co. Ltd., 4-5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0055, Japan,
Contact e-mail: bando@cetacean.jp
ABSTRACTThe 14th cruise of the full-scale Second Phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in theWestern North Pacific (JARPNII) -offshore component- was conducted in sub-areas 7, 8 and 9 of the western North
Pacific. There were two main research components in the 2015 survey: whale sampling survey and dedicated sighting
survey. A total of six research vessels was used: two sighting/sampling vessels (SSVs) (whale sampling survey
component), one research base vessel (Nisshin Maru, NM) (whale sampling survey component) and three dedicatedsighting vessels (SVs) (dedicated sighting survey component). The whale sampling survey was carried out from 11
June to 24 August 2015. A total of 1,762n.miles was surveyed in a period of 67 days by the SSVs. A total of threecommon minke, 265 sei, 156 Bryde’s, 128 sperm, 24 blue, 69 fin and one humpback whales were sighted by the SSVs.
A total of 90 sei and 25 Bryde’s whale was sampled by the SSVs. All whales sampled were examined on board of NM.
In July and August, sei whales fed mainly on Japanese sardine followed by mackerels, copepods and krill in sub-areas
8 and 9. Bryde’s whales fed mainly on krill in sub-areas 7 and 8. Two dedicated sighting surveys were carried out from23 April to 6 June and 9 June to 1 August in sub-areas 7, 8 and 9. A total of 2,660 and 2,726n.miles was surveyed
during those surveys by the SVs, respectively. Data obtained in this research will be used in the elucidation of the roleof whales in the marine ecosystem through the study of whale feeding ecology in the western North Pacific.
KEYWORDS: SCIENTIFIC PERMITS; COMMON MINKE WHALE; BRYDE’S WHALE; SEI WHALE; FOOD/PREY;MONITORINGINTRODUCTION
After the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Western North Pacific (JARPN)
was completed in 1999, the second phase of Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in theWestern North Pacific (JARPNII) was started in the 2000 summer season as a two-year feasibility study.
Based on the success of the feasibility study (Government of Japan, 2002a) and the increasingly strong
support from international fisheries organizations, including FAO, for research to improve multi-species
approaches to management, JARPNII started as a full-scale research program in 2002. The full-scale study
aimed i) to evaluate the feeding ecology and ecosystem studies, ii) to monitor environmental pollutants incetaceans and the marine ecosystem and iii) to elucidate the stock structure (Government of Japan, 2002b).
The full-scale JARPNII plan involves two survey components: the ‘offshore’ survey, which is covered by
the Nisshin Maru research unit and two ‘coastal’ surveys (Sanriku and Kushiro), which are covered bysmall type catcher boats. The coastal component was necessary to cover the temporal and spatial gaps,
which could not be covered by the Nisshin Maru unit (Government of Japan, 2002b).
The research area of the offshore component is set in sub-areas 7, 8 and 9, and the target species andsample sizes for the lethal component of the research were set as follows: 100 common minke whales; 100
sei whales, 50 Bryde’s whales and 10 sperm whales (Government of Japan, 2002b). The survey iscomposed of three main components: whale sampling survey, dedicated sighting survey and whale preysurveys.
In January 2009, IWC/SC conducted the Expert Workshop to review the ongoing JARPNII Programme(IWC, 2009) for the first period (2002-2007). The results presented on the three main objectives of
JARPNII were discussed by an Experts Panel. Constructive discussions were conducted and some1

recommendations were offered by the EP. Some of those recommendations had already been responded toby Japanese scientists (Pastene et al., 2010).
An Expert Workshop for the final review on the JARPNII was conducted by the IWC/SC in February 2016.
The results from whole JARPNII period were presented and discussed by the Panel. The report of theExpert Panel and Japan’s response will be submitted to 66b/IWC/SC.
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 JARPNII. The overall research objectives, the research area and research methodology remain
the same as those specified in the original JARPNII research plan (SC/56/01). This voluntary review
resulted in the reprioritization of the research focus as well as recalculation of sample sizes. The survey
concentrated on the study of interactions between whales and fisheries in the coastal area and interactions
among whale species in the offshore area as well as a contribution to the management of whales. Samplingof sperm and minke whales in offshore component was suspended because their role in the study ofinteractions between whales and fisheries in the coastal waters seemed to be limited. Sei whale sample sizeof 100 (as in the original plan) of which 10 were studied using only non-lethal methods. Bryde’s whale
sample size of 50 (as in the original plan) of which 25 were studied using only non-lethal methods. A study
for verifying the feasibility of using non-lethal methods was carried out.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Whale sampling survey
Research area
Sub-areas 7, 8 and 9, excluding the EEZ zones of foreign countries, comprised the research area (Figure 1).
Research vessels
Three research vessels were used. The research base vessel Nisshin Maru (NM: 8,145GT) conducted theresearch and was the platform for biological examination of whale samples and processing of by-products.
The Yushin Maru (YS1: 724GT) and Yushin Maru No.2 (YS2: 747GT) were used as the sighting/sampling
vessels (SSVs), which conducted sighting activities, sampling of targeted whale species and various
experiments and observations.
Methods for setting cruise track line and sighting procedure
Track lines and allocation of vessels were made as in previous JARPN and JARPNII surveys (Fujise et al.,
1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003; Ishikawa et al., 1997; Zenitani et al., 1999; Tamura et al., 2004,
2005, 2006, 2009a, 2009b, 2012, 2015; Bando et al., 2010, 2013, 2014; Matsuoka et al., 2007; Yasunaga etal., 2011). The zigzag-shaped track line was established on an arbitrary basis in each sub-area. Furthermore,some ‘special monitoring surveys’ (SMS) were conducted in areas where the abundance of Bryde’s and sei
whales was expected to be high. Track line in the SMS was designed separately from the original track line.
Two SSVs were allocated to these tracks with the allocation being changed every day. The research course
for the SSVs consisted of one main track and one parallel track established 7n.miles apart from the maincourse.
Sighting procedure for the whale sampling survey was similar to the previous surveys of JARPN and
JARPNII (Fujise et al., 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003; Ishikawa et al., 1997; Zenitani et al.,
1999; Tamura et al., 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009a, 2009b, 2012, 2015; Bando et al., 2010, 2013, 2014;
Matsuoka et al., 2008; Yasunaga et al., 2011). In the research area, sighting was conducted mainly underclosing mode. Furthermore two modalities of sighting in closing mode were adopted, NSC and NSS modes,
by taking into consideration weather and sea conditions. The conditions to conduct surveys under NSC
mode were similar to those established in Japanese sighting surveys conducted by the National ResearchInstitute of Far Seas Fisheries (i.e. visibility of two n.miles or more and wind force of four or below). The
NSS mode was used under bad weather conditions such as strong wind, heavy rain or fog but the collectionof whale samples was still possible. These two modes for surveys were recorded separately for future
analysis. Also an ASP mode was used (closing mode survey without sampling activities under normal
sighting conditions). Closing was performed mainly on sightings of common minke, Bryde’s and sei
2whales. Furthermore closing was made on sightings of other large baleen whales, such as blue, humpback,right and fin whales. In these cases, closing was done in order to confirm species and school size and to
conduct some experiments.
Sampling numbers and procedure of targeted whales
The target species and sample sizes in the 2015 JARPNII offshore component were set as follows: 90 sei
whales and 25 Bryde’s whales. Most of the whales sighted on the track line were approached for sampling.
Furthermore sampling effort was applied outside the established research hours (main time: 06:00-18:00(12 hrs) in local time), if collection of whale samples was considered possible. For schools consisting of
two or more animals, all of the whales in the school were numbered to set the sampling order randomly inaccordance with the table of random numbers (Kato et al., 1989). Cow and calf pairs were not targeted forsampling. Sampled whales were immediately transported to the research base vessel, where biologicalmeasurements and sampling were carried out.
Experiments
The following experiments and observations were conducted by the SV and SSVs:
1. Sighting distance and angle experiments to examine the precision of sighting data.
2. Biopsy sampling on gray, blue, fin, sei, Bryde’s, common minke, humpback, right, bowhead and sperm
whales. (SV and SSVs)
3. Photographic records of natural marks on blue, humpback and right whales.
4. Observation of feeding behaviour on blue, fin, sei, Bryde’s, common minke, humpback, right andsperm whales.
5. Observation of excretion and vomiting behaviour on sei, Bryde’s and common minke whales.

Observation of marine debris
Observation of marine debris was conducted from the wheelhouse of the research base vessel (NM). Marine
debris was also investigated in the stomach contents of Bryde’s and sei whales.

Dedicated Sighting survey
A report of the dedicated sighting surveys was presented by Matsuoka et al. (2016). Here just a brief
outline is presented. Two independent surveys were conducted in this season.
Research area
First survey: Sub-area 9
Second survey: Sub-areas 7, 8 and 9
Research vessel
The YS1, YS2 and Shonan Maru No.2 (SM2: 712GT) were used as dedicated sighting vessel (SV).
Methods for setting cruise track line and sighting procedure
An independent track line for the dedicated sighting survey was designed in the research area.
Experiments
The following experiments and observations were conducted by the SVs.
1. Sighting distance and angle experiments to examine the precision of sighting data.
2. Biopsy sampling on gray, blue, fin, sei, Bryde’s, common minke, humpback, right, bowhead and sperm
whales.
3. Photographic records of natural marks on blue, humpback and right whales.
4. Observation of excretion and vomiting behaviour on sei, Bryde’s and common minke whales.

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RESULTS
Whale sampling survey
Actual survey periods, track lines and searching distances
Cruise period: Between 11 June and 24 August (75 days)
Research period: Between 13 June and 18 August (67 days)
Track line: Track line set by the two SSVs is shown in Figure 2.
Searching distance: The total searching distance for SSVs was 1,762 n.miles
Sightings of common minke, sei, Bryde’s and sperm whales
A total of three schools (three individuals) of common minke, 198 schools (265 ind.) of sei, 119 schools(156 ind.) of Bryde’s and 72 schools (128 ind.) of sperm whales was sighted (Table 1, Figure 2)
Sightings of other large cetacean species
Table 1 also shows the number of sightings for other large whale species made by the SSVs, such as blue
(20 sch./24 ind.), fin (58 sch./69 ind.) and humpback (one sch./one ind.) whales (Figure 2).
Sampling and biological research on Bryde’s and sei whales
A total of 90 sei whales (male: 29, female: 61 ind.) and 25 Bryde’s whales (male: 14, female: 11 ind.) were
sampled. Struck and lost did not occur in this survey. Table 2 summarizes the biological data and samples
collected from whales. A total of 45 research items was covered. These items are related to the studies
conducted under the three main objectives of the JARPNII: study on feeding ecology of whales and marine
ecosystem, pollution studies and elucidation of stock structure.
Composition of sex and sexual maturity status of sei and Bryde’s whales are shown in Table 3. Statistics ofbody length of each whale species is shown in Table 4. Mean body length of sei whale was 13.30m and13.98m for males and females, respectively. For Bryde’s whales, those were 12.21m and 12.80m,
respectively.
Sighting position of sampled sei and Bryde’s whales is shown in Figure 3. Bryde’s whales were sampled insouthern part of sub-area 7 and 8. Sei whales were sampled in sub-areas 8 and 9.
Distribution and food habits of whales
In this survey, dominant prey species of sei whales was Japanese sardine (52.5%) followed by mackerels(11.5%), krill (9.8%) and copepods (8.2%) (Table 5). Bryde’s whales only fed on krill (Table 5).
Experiments
A detail report of the non-lethal research activity in 2015 JARPNII was presented in Mogoe et al (2016). In
this section, the summary of the results is described.
Sighting distance and angle experiment
A sighting distance and angle experiment was performed on 10 August by YS1 and YS2. The results of thisexperiment will be used in calculation of abundance estimates.
Photo-ID
Photo-ID was collected from one blue whale.
Biopsy sampling
Biopsy samples were collected from 16 sei, 33 Bryde’s, two common minke, three fin and two blue whales
using Larsen gun (Table 6).
Feeding behaviour
No case of feeding was observed during the survey.
Excretion and vomiting behaviour

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A total of two common minke, 259 sei and 147 Bryde’s whales were observed. As a result, eight cases (sixsei and two Bryde’s whales) of excretion behaviour were observed during the survey and faeces samples
were collected from two sei whales using a hand net. No case of vomiting was observed during the survey.
Observation of marine debris
No large debris was observed in the environment. A small piece of plastic was observed in the stomachs offive Bryde’s and 29 sei whales. A small piece of wood was observed in one Bryde’s and two sei whales. A
small piece of net was observed in five sei whales and a small piece of rope was observed in two sei whales.
Dedicated Sighting survey
Here just a brief outline of the results is presented. The details are described in Matsuoka (2016).
Actual research periods and searching distance
Cruise period:First survey: Between 23 April and 6 June (45 days; YS1, YS2)
Second survey : Between 9 June and 1 August (60 days; SM2)
Searching distance:
First survey: 2,660 n.miles (YS1, YS2)
Second survey : 2,726 n.miles (SM2)
Sightings of common minke, Bryde’s, sei and sperm whales
Sighting number of large cetacean species during each survey was shown in Table 1. A total of two schools(two individuals) of common minke, 40 schools (46 ind.) of sei and 34 schools (113 ind.) of sperm whales
was sighted during first survey. During second survey, a total of 98 schools (190 ind.) of sei, 70 schools (88ind.) of Bryde’s, and 79 schools (125 ind.) of sperm whales was sighted.
Sightings of other large cetacean species
Large baleen whales such as fin (19 schools/25 individuals), blue (10 sch./15 ind.), humpback (10 sch./12ind.) and right (two sch./three ind.) whales were sighted during the first survey. During the second survey, atotal of six schools (six ind.) of fin, one school (two ind.) of blue and one school (one ind.) of humpback
whales was sighted.
Experiments
Photo-ID
A total of eight humpback, 12 blue whales and two right whales were photographed during the first survey.
A total of one humpback and two blue whales were photographed during the second survey.
Biopsy sampling
Biopsy samples were collected from one common minke, three fin, six blue, five humpback and two rightwhales during first survey. During the second survey, biopsy sampling was not carried out for logisticalreason.
Feeding behaviour
Two cases of feeding behaviour by sei whales (two sch./45 ind.) were observed during the second survey.
Feeding behaviour was not observed during the first survey.
Excretion and vomiting behaviour
A total of 241 sei and 88 Bryde’s whales were observed. As a result, four cases (three sei and one Bryde’s
whales) of excretion behaviour were observed during the second survey. No case of excretion or vomiting
was observed during the first survey.
DISCUSSION
This year’s survey was conducted in mid summer (June - August). Little survey effort was applied to theappropriate temperature zone (10-15 0C) for common minke whales and as a result, only a low number of5common minke whales were sighted. Prey species and food habits of sei and Bryde’s whales in this survey
are discussed below in the context of previous survey results.
Sei whale
From our research results of past JARPNII (2002 to 2014), sei whales fed on Japanese anchovy andcopepods dominantly during survey season in most years (Figure 4). During the present survey, sei whales
were sampled in mid summer in sub-areas 8 and 9. Dominant prey species of sampled sei whales wereJapanese sardine followed by mackerels, krill and copepods. Japanese sardine first appeared as the main
prey species last year and this year became the most dominant species, which might indicate recovery ofthis resource and a change of feeding habits of sei whales.
Bryde’s whale
From our research results of past JARPNII (2000 to 2014), the dominant prey species of Bryde’s whale wasJapanese anchovy and krill during May to September (Figure 4). There was a seasonal change of preyspecies. In early season (May and June) the dominant prey species was krill. In late season (from July to
September), the dominant prey species was Japanese anchovy in sub-areas 7 and 8. In the south eastern partof sub-area 9, oceanic lightfish were also an important prey species in August. During the present survey,
only krill was observed in stomach contents of Bryde’s whales in June in sub-area 7 and 8, which does notcontradict with results of previous surveys.
Summary of yearly change of prey species
In recent years, Japanese sardine increasingly appeared in the stomach contents of sei whales sampledoffshore and common minke whales sampled in the Kushiro region (Kishiro et al., 2014, 2016; Yoshida etal., 2013, 2015). On the other hand, the proportion of Japanese anchovy as prey species of baleen whales
has decreased and completely disappeared in present survey. This might indicate fish species replacementfrom Japanese anchovy to Japanese sardine in the North Pacific. Sei and Bryde’s whales might havechanged prey species in response to changes in availability of prey species.
Further surveys will be needed to detect possible ongoing changes of dominant pelagic fish species in the
North Pacific and changes of feeding strategy of baleen whales.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We acknowledge the Fisheries Agency of Government of Japan for their support of this research cruise.
The authors are greatly indebted to Hidehiro Kato, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology,
and Yoshihiro Fujise, Hiroshi Hatanaka, Seiji Ohsumi, L.A. Pastene, Genta Yasunaga and Tsutomu
Tamura of the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) for their guidance in the design and implementation of
the research. We thank research technicians, Tatsuo Sasaki and Hideaki Togashi of Kyodo Senpaku Kaisya
Ltd. for their contribution. Takayuki Suetsugu of the Government of Japan, served as onboard inspector.
We thank all crew of the research vessels (NM, YS1, YS2, and SM2) and the staff of the ICR, KyodoSenpaku Co. Ltd and the Fisheries Research Agency of Japan for their effort and collaboration.

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North Pacific (JARPN II) in 2005 – Offshore component –. Paper SC/58/O8 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 2006
(unpublished). 52pp.
Tamura, T., Otani, S., Isoda, T., Wada, A., Yonezaki, S., Mori, M., Tsunekawa, M., Fukutome, K., Nakai, K., Satoh, H., Nomura, I.,
Nagatsuka, S., Umatni, M., Koyanagi, T., Takamatsu, T., Kawabe, S., Kandabashi, S., Watanabe, H, Kumagai, S., Sato, H. andOgawa, T. 2009a. 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 I) - Offshore component –. Paper SC/61/O4 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee,
May 2009 (unpublished). 49pp.
Tamura, T., Matsuoka, K. and Fujise, Y. 2009b. Methodology and survey procedure under the JARPN II - offshore component- withspecial emphasis on whale sampling procedures. Paper SC/J09/JR4 presented to the JARPN II review meeting, January 2009
(unpublished). 36pp.
Tamura, T., Kubodera, T., Ohizumi, H., Konishi, K. And Isoda, T. 2009d. Feeding habits of sperm whales and their impact on neon
flying squid resources in the western North Pacific. Paper SC/J09/JR17 presented to the JARPN II review meeting, January 2009
(unpublished). 22pp.
Tamura, T., Mogoe, T., Nakai, K., Mori, M., Tsunekawa, M., Yoshimura I., Ishikawa, Y., Kawabe, S., Yamaguchi, F., Yamazaki, M.,
Ueta, E., Watanabe, H. and Eguchi, K. 2012. Cruise Report of the Second Phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program underSpecial Permit in the Western North Pacific (JARPN II) in 2011 (part I) – Offshore component –. Paper SC/64/O3 presented to the
IWC Scientific Committee, May 2013 (unpublished). 28pp.
Tamura, T., Naohisa, K., Nakai, K., Sakamoto, N., Okitsu, Y., Kato, K., Yoshii, K., Mori, M., Tsunekawa, M., Kawabe, S.,
Yamaguchi, F., Honma, H. and Ogawa, T. 2015. Cruise Report of the Second Phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program underSpecial Permit in the Western North Pacific (JARPN II) in 2015 (part I) – Offshore component –. Paper SC/66a/SP6 presented to the
IWC Scientific Committee, May 2015 (unpublished). 14pp.
Yasunaga, G., Kiwada, H., Mogoe, T., Wada, A., Nakai, K., Mori, M., Tsunekawa, M., Kasai, H., Ohshima, T., Yoshimura, I., Sato,
H., Sakamoto, N., Watanabe, H., Fujiwara, G., Tamura, T. and Ogawa, T. 2011. Cruise report of the Second Phase of the Japanese
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Paper SC/63/O2 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 2011 (unpublished). 38pp.
Yoshida, H., Kishiro, T., Ito, N., Nakamura, G., Miyakawa, N., Tamai, N., Kadowaki, I., Fukumoto, A., Takahashi, M., Furuyama, Y.,
Oota, Y., Maeda, H., Miyashita, T., Kumagai, S., Hara, T., Kimura, Y., Sakamoto, N., Kobayashi, N., Suzuki, N., Kanaji, Y., Mogoe,T., Nakai, K. and Kato, H. 2015. Cruise report of the second phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in
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Zenitani, R., Fujise, Y., Matsuoka, K., Tamura, T., Bando, T., Ichihashi, H., Shimokawa, T., Krasnenko, A.S., Taguchi F., Kinoshita,T., Mori, M., Watanabe, M., Ichinomiya, D., Nakamura, M., Sakai, K., Matsuzaka, K., Kamei, H. and Tohyama, D. 1999. Cruise
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8

Table 1. Whale species and number of sightings in the 2015 JARPN II survey (no. schools/no. individuals)

Whale sampling survey (YS1 and YS2 )Primary

Secondary

Total

Sch.

Ind.

Sch.

Ind.

Sch.

Ind.

Common minke whale

2

2

1

1

3

3

Sei whale

55

72

143

193

198

265

Bryde's whale

67

90

52

66

119

156

Sperm whale

46

75

26

53

72

128

Blue whale

4

4

16

20

20

24

Fin whale

14

17

44

52

58

69

Humpback whale

0

0

1

1

1

1

Species

Dedicated sighting surveys (YS1 , YS2 and SM2 )First survey (YS1 and YS2 )SpeciesPrimary

Secondary

Sch.

Ind.

Sch.

Ind.

Sch.

Common minke whale

1

1

1

1

Sei whale

38

54

2

Bryde's whale

00Sperm whale

34

Blue whale

Second survey (SM2 )Total

Primary

Secondary

Ind.

Sch.

Ind.

Sch.

Ind.

Sch.

Ind.

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

40

56

62

130

36

60

98

190

0

0

0

0

56

69

14

19

70

88

113

0

0

34

113

74

117

5

8

79

125

10

15

0

0

10

15

0

0

1

2

1

2

Fin whale

19

25

0

0

19

25

5

5

1

1

6

6

Humpback whale

9

11

1

1

10

12

0

0

0

0

0

0

Right whale

2

3

0

0

2

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

9

Total

Table 2. Summary of biological data and samples collected during the 2015 JARPN II survey.
Research items

Sei whale
M
T
29
90
29
90
29
90
29
90
28
89
1
1
29
90
1
1
29
90
29
90
29
90
29
90
2
5
9
9
29
90
61
61
16
61
12 29*
12 29*

Bryde's whale
F M
T
11 14
25
11 14
25
11 14
25
11 14
25
11 13
24
0
1
1
11 14
25
0
1
1
11 14
25
11 14
25
11 14
25
11 14
25
2
3
5
9
9
11 14
25
11 11
11 11
5
5
11 11
2
2
4
2
2
4

M easurement of body length
M easurement of external body proportion
Photographic record of external characters
Record of Diatom film
Standard measurement of blubber thickness (five points)
Detailed measurement of blubber thickness (eleven points)
M easurement of body weight
M easurement of body weight by parts
Collection of skin tissue for genetic study
Collection of blubber, muscle, liver and kidney tissues for organochlorines analysis
Collection of blubber tissue for fatty acid analysis
Collection of blubber tissues for stable isotope ratio analysis
Collection of blubber and muscle tissues for nutritional compornent analysis
Collection of lung tissue for atmospheric analysis
Collection of tissues for various analyses
Observation of lactation status
M easurement of mammary gland and collection of histological sample for reproductive study
Collection of endometrium histological sample for reproductive study
Collection of ovary
Photographic record of foetus
Identification of foetal sex (by visual observation)

F
61
61
61
61
61
0
61
0
61
61
61
61
3
61
61
61
16
61
16
16

M easurement of foetal length and weight

16

12

29*

2

2

4

Collection of foetal blubber tissue for genetic study
Collection of foetal lens for age determination
Collection of testis histological sample for reproductive study
M easurement of testis weightCollection of testis for epidemiological study
Photographic record of testis
Collection of plasma sample
Observation of stomach contents (conventional record)
M easurement of stomach content weight in each compartment
Collection of stomach contents for feeding study
Collection of stomach contents for various analyses
M easurement of stomach contents (prey length and weight)
Collection of intestines contents for feeding study
Observation of appearance of marine debris in stomach
Photographic record of marine debris
Record of appearance of external parasites
Record of appearance of internal parasites
Collection of earplug for age determination
Collection of lens for age determination
Collection of vertebral epiphyses for growth study
Counting the number of ribs
M easurement of skull length and breadth
Collection of testis for sexual maturation study

16
16
61
61
61
44
12
28
61
61
21
61
61
61
61
61
61
58
-

12
12
29
29
29
29
29
29
29
21
8
16
29
29
10
29
29
29
29
29
29
27
-

29*
28
29
29
29
29
90
90
90
65
20
44
90
90
31
90
90
90
90
90
90
85
-

2
2
11
11
11
6
1
0
11
11
4
11
11
11
11
11
11
10
-

2
2
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
8
4
0
14
14
2
14
14
14
14
14
14
12
3

4
4
14
14
14
14
25
25
25
14
5
0
25
25
6
25
25
25
25
25
25
22
3

*

Including a foetus of already dead and sex unknown

10

Table 3. Sex and sexual maturity composition of whales sampled during the 2015 JARPN II survey.
MaleSpeciesImm. Mat. Total
SA8

Sei

SA9
Combined
SA7

Bryde's

SA8
Combined

0
10
10
2
1
3

7
12
19
9
2
11

7
22
29
11
3
14

Female
Mat.
Total
Imm.
Total
Ovu. Rest. Preg. Lact. Total
1
0
2
7
0
9
10
17
14
0
10
22
5
37
51
73
15
0
12
29
5
46
61
90
1
1
2
4
2
9
10
21
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
2
1
2
4
2
9
11
25

Table 4. Body length (m) of whales sampled during the 2015 JARPN II survey.
Species

Sei

Bryde's

Sub
area

Male

Female

n

mean

S.D.

min

max

n

mean

S.D.

min

max

SA8

7

13.96

0.44

13.30

14.77

10

14.31

0.85

12.70

15.20

SA9

22

13.08

1.20

10.32

14.95

51

13.91

1.13

11.67

15.50

Combined

29

13.30

1.13

10.32

14.95

61

13.98

1.10

11.67

15.50

SA7

11

12.26

0.66

10.42

13.10

10

12.96

0.85

11.12

14.11

SA8

3

12.05

0.65

11.13

12.57

1

11.23

0.00

11.23

11.23

Combined

14

12.21

0.66

10.42

13.10

11

12.80

0.95

11.12

14.11

Table 5. Prey species and stomach contents weight (1st. + 2nd. stomachs) in whales sampled during the2015 JARPN II survey.
SpeciesN%

Range of weight(kg)

SquidsOthers

6
5
32
7
3
4
4

9.8
8.2
52.5
11.5
4.9
6.6
6.6

13.20
13.22
0.90
13.50
13.04
1.06
1.14

- 168.73- 97.44- 915.81- 349.26- 41.14- 11.06- 7.45

Krill

12

100.0

1.00

-

Dominant prey species

Sei
Krill
Copepods
FishJapanese sardine
Mackerels
Pacific saury

Bryde's

11

34.88

Table 6. Summary of biopsy skin sampling for some baleen whale species in the 2015 JARPN II offshore
component.
NumberNumber ofof targeted
experiments
individuals

NumberofshootsNumber Number
Numberofofof sampledhitssamples* individuals

Effort(min)

Biopsy successrate(sample per trial)

Biopsy successrate(sample per shot)

Averagesampling time(minute per sample)

(D)

(E)

(D)/(A)(C)/(B)(E)/(D)

16

507

0.615

0.500

32

43

33

763

0.786

0.478

23

2

2

2

53

1.000

0.500

26

6

5

5

3

79

0.500

0.833

26

5

2

2

2

36

1.000

0.400

18

Species

Ship

(A)

(B)

(C)

Sei

SSVs

25

26

44

22

22

Bryde's

SSVs

41

42

90

46

Common minke

SSVs

2

2

4

Fin

SSVs

6

6

Blue

SSVs

2

2

*Including duplicate samples from the same individual

978Figure 1. Research area of the JARPN II full-scale program.

12

Figure 2. Track-lines and sighting positions of large whales made by the sighting/sampling vessels (SSVs).
Black line: Normal survey, Red line: SMS survey

Figure 3. Sighting positions of the sampled sei (orange square) and Bryde’s (green diamond) whales.
Black line: Normal survey, Red line: SMS survey

13Sei whale
100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Krill

Copepoda

Anchovy

Mackerels

Saury

SquidsSardineLight fishes

OthersBryde's
100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Krill

Anchovy

Mackerels

SardineLight fishes

OthersFigure 4. Composition of main prey species of sei (upper) and Bryde’s (lower) whales sampled during the2015 offshore survey, with comparison to the previous surveys.

14