SC/66a/IAxx

Cruise report of the Japanese dedicated cetacean sighting
survey in the western North Pacific in 2014
KOJI MATSUOKA1, FUTOSHI YAMAGUCHI 2, HIDETO HONMA 2, CHIKAMASA OHKOSHI 2, KOJI MAKI2) AND TOMIOMIYASHITA3
1

Institute of Cetacean Research, Toyomi 4-5, Chuo-ku Tokyo, 104-0055, JAPANKyodo Senpaku Co. Ltd., Toyomi 4-5, Chuo-ku Tokyo, 104-0055, JAPAN3
National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Fukuura 2-12-4, Kanazawa, Yokohama, Kanagawa
236-8648, JAPAN
2

Contact e-mail: matsuoka@cetacean.jp

ABSTRACT
A systematic large-scale vessel-based sighting survey was conducted in 2014 by Japan to examine the
distribution and abundance of large whales in the western North Pacific. The research area was set between
20° N and 30° N and between 140° E and 170° E (the sub-area 1 for North Pacific Bryde’s whales). The
research area was divided into northern and southern strata by 25°N latitude. The US EEZ in the southern
stratum (Northern Mariana Islands EEZ and Marshall Islands EEZ) was also surveyed under a US researchpermit except biopsy permit. The survey was conducted between 5 August and 5 September. The research
vessels Yushin-Maru and Yushin-Maru No.2 were engaged for this survey. A total of 4,813.0 n.miles was
searched in the research area. Successful coverage of the searching efforts of the planned cruise track line was
96.6% for the northern stratum and 90.5 % for the southern stratum, respectively. In total, two large whale
species including Bryde’s (56 schools / 72 individuals including 9 mother and calf pairs) and sperm whale(24/70) were sighted during the survey. Biopsy skin samples using a crossbow were successfully collectedfrom Bryde’s whales (16 individuals, including one mother and calf pair). No biopsy experiments wereconducted in the US EEZ. In August, Bryde’s whales were widely distributed in the western North Pacificbetween 30ºN and 20ºN including in the US EEZ. These Bryde’s whale sighting data including 16 biopsy
samples in the sub-area 1, collected during this survey are useful for the western North Pacific Bryde’s whale
Implementation Review which will be conducted in 2017 SC meeting.

KEY WORD: BRYDE’S WHALE, SPERM WHALES, SURVEY VESSEL, NORTH PACIFICINTRODUCTION
In the western North Pacific dedicated cetacean sighting surveys based on the survey procedures of theInternational Whaling Commission/Southern Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research (IWC/SOWER) have been
conducted since 1995 as a part of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Western
North Pacific (JARPN/JARPNII). Based on the collected data the distribution patterns of large whales such as
blue, fin, sei, Bryde’s, common minke, humpback, North Pacific right and sperm whales, and abundance
estimates of common minke, sei and Bryde’s whales were investigated and reported to the IWC SC (IWC, 2001,
2010, Pastene et al., 2007, 2008, 2009, Hakamada et al., 2009, Matsuoka et al., 2009, Murase et al., 2009). The
National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries (NRIFSF) has also conducted dedicated sighting survey forcetaceans in the North Pacific since the 1980s (Buckland et al., 1992; Miyashita et al., 1995., Miyashita andKato, 2004; 2005, Kanaji, 2012). In 2014 the Government of Japan planned to continue the sighting surveys in
the North Pacific. The collection of sighting data to estimate abundance and biopsy/photo-identification data to
examine stock structure will contribute to the work on management and conservation of large whales by the IWC
SC (IWC, 2010). This paper reports the result of the Japanese dedicated sighting surveys conducted in 2014. The
plan for this survey where in the sub-area 1 for the North Pacific Bryde’s whale, had been presented to the 2014
IWC/SC meeting (Matsuoka et al., 2014) and endorsed by the SC (IWC, 2014). Under SC agreement, theresearch permit from the US Government for the US EEZ (Northern Mariana Islands EEZ and Marshall Islands
EEZ) for the passing survey mode (no closing mode for whales) was permitted for the 2014 survey (theclearance request application U2014-021, approved 28 July, 2014 by Roberta Barnes, Authorizations
Coordinator, 202-647-0240).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The surveys were conducted in 2014 in the western North Pacific by the research vessel Yushin-Maru (YS1) andYushin-Maru No.2 (YS2). The vessels were equipped with a top barrel platform (TOP) and upper bridge.
Specifications of these vessels are shown in Appendix A.

1

SC/66a/IAxx

Research area and period
The research area was set between 20° N and 30° N and between 140° E and 170° E (the sub-area 1 for North
Pacific Bryde’s whales, see Figures 1a and 1b), during 5 August to 9 September (Table 1). The research area wasdivided into northern and southern strata by 25°N latitude. The US EEZ in the southern stratum (Northern
Mariana Islands EEZ and Marshall Islands EEZ) was also surveyed under a US research permit except biopsy
permit (Figure 1c).
Track line design
The Survey blocks and pre-determined track lines are shown in Table 2 and Figures 1c. The Latitudinal startpoint of the track lines are decided at random using the “Distance program (ver.6.0)” and the number of the line
(width in the longitude) is decided by the research schedule based on the IWC survey guideline (IWC, 2005).
Sighting procedure
Passing mode with abeam closing was used, which followed the protocol endorsed for the IWC/SOWER cruise(IWC, 2008). There were two primary observers in the top barrel (TOP) and the upper bridge (captain andhelmsman), respectively. On the TOP, two observers conducted searching for cetaceans by using scaled
binoculars (7x). On the upper bridge, two primary observers also searched for cetaceans and recorded sighting
information. The survey was conducted 12 hours per day from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. basically when the weather
conditions were suitable for observations: visibility better than 2.0 n.miles and wind speed less than 21 knots.
The vessel searching speed was planned to be 11.5 knots with slight adjustment to avoid vibration of vessel.
Research personnel
One researcher was on board of each research vessel. The researchers had considerable experience on whale linetransect surveys in the North Pacific and Antarctic as well as experience conducting photo-id and biopsy
experiments through participation in the IWC/IDCR-SOWER and JARPN II Programs.
Yushin-Maru (YS1)
Hideto Honma (Japan) – sighting data, photo-ID, biopsy

Yushin-Maru No.2 (YS2)
Futoshi Yamaguchi (Japan)– sighting data, photo-ID, biopsy

Experiments
Distance and angle experiments were conducted earlier in the Surveys. The experiment to evaluate measurement
error was conducted late in the survey following the protocol of the IWC/SOWER cruise (IWC, 2008). Whenlarge cetaceans such as blue, humpback and North Pacific right whales were found, photo-id experiments wereconducted. Biopsy skin samples of blue, fin, Bryde’s, humpback, North Pacific right and sperm whales were
opportunistically collected.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Brief narrative of the Surveys
Research vessels (YS1 and YS2) departed from Tokyo and Shiogama, Japan respectively on 1 August andstarted the survey in the research area on 5 August (Table 1). The YS1 surveyed in the northern stratum (there
are no foreign EEZ), and YS2 surveyed in the southern stratum (including US EEZ). They surveyed on the
pre-determined trackline in each stratum (Table 2). The vessels left the research area on 9 September and arrived
at Shimonoseki on 14 September.
Searching effort
A summary of the period covered and sighting effort in each Survey block is shown in Table 3. A total of
2,466.3 n.miles (planned cruise track was 2,553.0 n.miles, 96.6 % covered) in the northern strata, and 2,346.7
n.miles (planned cruise track was 2,592.4 n.miles, 90.5 % covered) in the southern strata were searched.
Sightings
Sightings made are summarized by the whale research area (Table 4a), and by the US EEZ. Figures 2 show thelocation of these sightings.
Bryde’s Whale
Bryde’s whales were the only species of baleen whale sighted and were widely distributed in the northern andsouthern blocks in the whole research area (Figure 2). A total of 56 schools (72 individuals) were observed in the2

SC/66a/IAxx

research area. A total of 20 schools (24 individuals) including 5 mother and calf pairs were observed in thenorthern stratum, and of 36 schools (48 individuals) including 4 mother and calf pairs were observed in thesouthern stratum (Table 4a). 9 schools were mother and calf pairs. Observed mean school size was 1.29 (n=56).
Range of the estimated body length was 11.2 – 13.8 meters except calves. Range of the sea temperature of thesighting position was 27.8°C – 30.1°C. Bryde’s whales are widely distributed in summer in the western North
Pacific south of 40ºN based on the recent JARPNII dedicated sighting surveys and JARPN/JARPN II catches((Shimada, 2004; Pastene et al., 2009). Present results show that Bryde’s whales are also widely distributed insummer in the western North Pacific south of 30ºN.
A total of 12 schools (15 individuals) of Bryde’s whales were observed in the US EEZ. A total of 6
schools (8 individuals) were observed in the waters around the Northern Mariana Islands, and a total of 6 schools(7 individuals) were observed in the waters around the Marshall Islands (Table 4b and 4c). There was no motherand calf pair observed in both areas of the US EEZ.
Sperm Whale
Sperm whales were the most frequently sighted toothed whales in the whole research area (Tables 4a and 4b, andFigure 4). A total of 24 schools (70 individuals) were observed during the Survey. Observed mean school size
was 2.92 (n=24). At least one mother and calf pair was observed in the Northern Mariana Islands EEZ (Table5c).
Because of limited closing to the schools, there was little information for body length and calves. Range of thesea temperature of the sighting position was 26.8°C – 29.7°C.
A total of 3 schools (5 individuals) of sperm whales were observed in the Northern Mariana Islands
EEZ. One mother and calf pair was observed in the Northern Mariana Islands EEZ. There were no sperm whales
observed in the Marshall Islands US EEZ (Table 4b and 4c).
Experiments
Estimated Angle and Distance
The Estimated Angle and Distance Training Exercise were conducted early in the Surveys. During the exercise
the observers familiarized themselves with distance estimates from the TOP and Upper Bridge. The EstimatedAngle and Distance Experiment were conducted on 9 August by YS1, and 12 August by YS2.
Photo-ID experiments
No photo-ID target species were observed during the survey.
BiopsyAll of the biopsy attempts were made using the compound crossbow system. Allocation of research time tobiopsy attempts was initially restricted with the aim of maximizing the searching effort to cover the research area.
A total of 16 biopsy samples were collected from Bryde’s whales including one mother and calf pair (Tables 5aand 5b, Figure 3). All samples were stored at the ICR laboratory. No biopsy experiments were conducted in the
US EEZ.
New information for western North Pacific Bryde’s whale management
The 2014 survey was conducted in sub-area1 for the defined for the western North Pacific Bryde’s whales(Figure 1a). These Bryde’s whale sighting data including 16 biopsy samples collected during this survey areuseful for the Bryde’s whale Implementation Review for this stock which will be conducted in 2017 SC meeting.
Report of the IWC oversight and data submission to the IWC
Detailed report of the IWC oversight was shown in Appendix B. All equipment and the survey method were thesame as in the past sighting surveys. The design of the survey blocks and track lines was improved to cover eachsurvey block based on the IWC guidelines. The planned sighting procedure was in accordance with theguidelines agreed by the SC (IWC, 2005). Objectives and procedure of the survey were explained to the captains,
officers, crew and researcher in advance. Sighting data was sent to the IWC secretary and confirmed on 26
December 2014.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge the Government of Japan’s assistance in providing the research permits and funding for thiscruise. We also acknowledge the US Government for the research permit in the US EEZ (in the waters aroundthe Northern Mariana Islands EEZ and Marshall Islands EEZ) for this survey. We also thank the captains and theofficers and crew of the Yushin-Maru and Yushin-Maru No.2 for their hard work and dedication that led to thesuccessful execution of this cruise. We thank Drs. Yoshihiro Fujise, Hiroshi Hatanaka, Seiji Ohsumi, Shigetoshi

3SC/66a/IAxx

Nishiwaki, Luis Pastene, Tsutomu Tamura and the staff of the Institute of Cetacean Research (Tokyo) andKyodo Senpaku Co. Ltd. for their assistance in arrangements and support for the cruise. We thank to Dan
Goodman and for his constructive suggestions to improve the draft of this paper.

REFERENCES
Buckland, S.T., Cattanach, K.L. and Miyashita, T. 1992. Minke whale abundance in the northwest Pacific andthe Okhotsk Sea, estimated from 1989 and 1990 sighting surveys. Rep. int. Whal. Comn 42: 387-92.
Hakamada, T., Matsuoka, K. and Miyashita, T., 2009. Distribution and the number of western North Pacificcommon minke, Bryde's, sei and sperm whales distributed in JARPNII Offshore component survey area.
SC/J09/JR15. 18pp. [Paper available at the IWC Office].
IWC, 2001. Report of the Workshop to Review the Japanese Whale Research Program under special permit for
North Pacific minke whales (JARPN). J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 3 (Supp.):377-413.
IWC. 2005. Report of the Scientific Committee. Annex D. Report of the sub-committee on the Revised
Management Procedure. Appendix 3. Requirements and Guidelines for Conducting Surveys andAnalysing Data within the Revised Management Scheme. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 7 (Supp.):92-101.I
IWC,
2008.
IWC
SOWER
Cruise2008/09,
InformationforResearchers.
http://iwcoffice.org/_documents/sci_com/SOWER/Guide%20%20for%20Researchers%202008-09.pdf
IWC, 2010. The Report of the Expert Workshop to review the ongoing JARPN II Programme. J. Cetacean Res.
Manage. 11 (Supp.2):405-450.
IWC, 2014. Report of the Scientific Committee, Annex G. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 15 (Supp.):xx-xxx, 27pp.
IWC, 2015. Report of the meeting of the IWC-POWER Technicak Advisory Group (TAG), Tokyo, Japan, 8-10
October 2014. SC/66a/REPS1. .
Kanaji, Y., Iwasaki, T., Kishiro, T. and Miyashita, T., 2012. Cruise report of the sighting and satellite tagging
survey for common minke whales in the sub-area 7 in 2011. SC/64/O9. 10pp. [Paper available at the IWC
Office].
Matsuoka, K., Kiwada, H., Fujise, Y. and Miyashita, T., 2009. Distribution of blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin(B. physalus), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) and north pacific right (Eubalaena japonica) whales in
the western North Pacific based on JARPN and JARPN II sighting surveys (1994 to 2007). SC/J09/JR35.
12pp. The IWC/SC JARPNII review meeting, Yokohama, 26-30, January. [Paper available at the IWC
Office].
Matsuoka, K., Hakamada, T. and Miyashita, T., 2014. Research plan for a cetacean sighting surveys in theWestern North Pacific in 2014. SC/65b/IA07. 3pp. [Paper available at the IWC Office].
Miyashita, T., Kato, H. and Kasuya, T., 1995. Worldwide Map of Cetacean Distribution based on Japanese
Sighting Data (Volume 1). pp43-56.
Miyashita, T. and Kato H. 2004. Plan for the North Pacific minke whale sighting surveys in 2004. SC/56/RMP3.
3pp. [Paper available at the IWC Office].
Miyashita, T. and Kato H. 2005. Plan for the minke whale sighting surveys in the North Pacific in 2005.
SC/57/NPM2. 5pp. [Paper available at the IWC Office].
Murase, H., Hakamada, T., Kiwada, H., Inagake, D., Okazaki, M., Tojyo, N. and Matsuoka, K., 2009.
Preliminary results of estimation of sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) distributuion and abudnace in thewhole North Pacific basin. Appendix 2. 11pp. In: Hakamada, T., Examination of the effects on whale
stocks of future JARPN II catches. SC/J09/JR36. 56pp.
Pastene, L.A, Kawahara, S. and Hatanaka, H. 2007. concepts for a research program on north pacific Bryde’s
whale -RMP VARIANT 2 WITH RESEARCH-. SC/59/PFI2 5pp. [Paper available at the IWC Office].
Pastene, L.A, Kitakado, T. and Hatanaka, H. 2008. Research proposal accompanying management variant 2 of
the RMP Implementation for western North Pacific Bryde’s whale. SC/60/PFI9 10pp. [Paper available atthe IWC Office].
Pastene, L,A., Hatanaka, H., Fujise, Y., Kanda, N., Murase, H., Tamura, T., Miyashita, T. and Kato, H., 2009.
The Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the western North Pacific Phase-II(JARPN II): origin, objectives and research progress made in the period 2002-2007, including scientificconsiderations for the next research period. SC/J09/JR1 (Rev 1). 73pp.
Shimada, 2004. Abundance estimate of the western North Pacific stock of Bryde’s whales using sighting datafrom 1998 to 2002. SC/56/PIF6. 8pp.

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Table 1. Cruise itinerary of this survey.
Date

Event

1-Aug-2014

Vessels departed Tokyo (YS1) and Shiogama (YS2), Japan

5-Aug

Vessels started in the research area

9-Sep

Vessels completed the research area area

14-Sep

Vessels arrived Shimonoseki (YS1 & YS2), Japan

Table 2. Waypoint (WP) in the research area.
North

WP

Lat.

Long

South

WP

Lat.

Long

101

28

-

01.9

N 140

-

00.0 E

201

22

-

05.8

N 140

-

00.0 E

102

25

-

00.0

N 142

-

43.7 E

202

25

-

00.0

N 142

-

36.8 E

103

30

-

00.0

N 147

-

13.7 E

203

20

-

00.0

N 147

-

06.8 E

104

25

-

00.0

N 151

-

43.7 E

204

25

-

00.0

N 151

-

36.8 E

105

30

-

00.0

N 156

-

13.7 E

205

20

-

00.0

N 156

-

06.8 E

106

25

-

00.0

N 160

-

43.7 E

206

25

-

00.0

N 160

-

36.8 E

107

30

-

00.0

N 165

-

13.7 E

207

20

-

00.0

N 165

-

06.8 E

108

25

-

00.0

N 169

-

43.7 E

208

25

-

00.0

N 169

-

36.8 E

109

25

-

18.1

N 170

-

00.0 E

209

24

-

34.2

N 170

-

00.0 E

Table 3. Summary of the survey periods and searching effort (n.miles).
Research
vessels

Cruise period

Research area
periodPlanned cruise
track (n.miles)

Searchingeffort (n.miles)

Coverage ofeffort (n.miles)

Northern(YS1)

2014.8.1-9.14

2014.8.3- 9.9

2,553.0

2,466.3

96.6%

Southern(YS2)

2014.8.1-9.14

2014.8.3- 9.9

2,592.4

2,346.7

90.5%

Total

2014.8.1-9.14

2014.8.3- 9.95,145.4

4,813.0

93.5%

Table 4a. Number of sightings by species and stratum in the research area. ( ): the number of mother and calf
pairs.
Species

Northern stratum

Southern stratum

Total

sch.

Ind.

sch.

Ind.

sch.

Ind.

Bryde's whale

20(5)

24

36(4)

48

56(9)

72

Sperm whale

17

60

7

10

24

70

Unid. Large whale

2

2

5

5

7

7

Total

39

86

48

63

87

149

Table 4b. Number of sightings by species in the US EEZ.
US EEZ

N. Mariana Islands EEZMarshall Islands EEZ

Total

332.4

292.5

624.9

Searching effort (n.miles)
Species

sch.

Ind.

sch.

Ind.

sch.

Ind.

Bryde's whale

6

8

6

7

12

15

Sperm whale

3

5

0

0

3

5

Unid. Large whale

2

2

0

0

2

2

Total

11

15

6

7

17

22

5

SC/66a/IAxx

Table 4c. List of all whale sightings in the US EEZ.
Vessel

Year

Month

Day

YS1
YS1
YS1
YS1
YS1
YS1
YS1
YS1
YS1

2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014

8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8

13
13
13
23
23
24
25
25
25

Sight ing
number
1
2
3
4
5
1
1
2
3

Hour

Min.sec

LatdegLatminN/S Longdeg

Longmin

E/W

Speces

8
8
9
15
16
8
12
14
16

12.38
40.33
13.03
55.06
3.22
5.13
13.49
50.18
24.59

22
22
22
22
22
22
20
20
20

5971
5809
5656
3076
2955
998
27
2195
3553

N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N

144
144
144
167
167
167
165
164
164

2567
2778
2904
2135
2025
241
660
4729
3508

E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E

Bryde's whale
Bryde's whale
Bryde's whale
Bryde's whale
Bryde's whale
Bryde's whale
Bryde's whale
Bryde's whale
Bryde's whale

School
size
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1

Est imatedLength max
11.3
13.2
12.1
12.8
12.8
12.5
12.5
12.3
12.6

Estimat ed
Lengt h min
12
11.8
12.3
-

Sea
temp.
28.4
28.4
28.4
28.9
28.9
28.2
29
29.1
29

YS1

2014

9

7

YS1
YS1
YS1
YS1
YS1
YS1
YS1

2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014

9
9
9
9
9
9
9

7
7
8
8
8
8
9

1

11

27.53

20

3137

N

147

3481

E

Sperm whale

3

13.2

-

29.2

2
3
1
2
3
4
1

12
12
8
9
9
10
6

29.49
37.1
53.41
52.51
54.05
37
34.3

20
20
20
20
20
20
21

2218
2109
3745
3814
3833
3907
3421

N
N
N
N
N
N
N

147
147
146
146
146
146
145

2632
2533
3364
3274
3259
2987
4312

E
E
E
E
E
E
E

Sperm whale
Sperm whale
Bryde's whale
Bryde's whale
Unid. Large whale
Unid. Large whale
Bryde's whale

1
1
1
1
1
1
1

11.8
12.4
11.8

-

29.7
29.7
29.4
29.5
29.5
29.3
29.5

Remarks
N. Mariana Islands EEZ
N. Mariana Islands EEZ
N. Mariana Islands EEZMarshall Islands EEZMarshall Islands EEZMarshall Islands EEZMarshall Islands EEZMarshall Islands EEZMarshall Islands EEZ
N. Mariana Islands EEZ,
Mother & calf pair
N. Mariana Islands EEZ
N. Mariana Islands EEZ
N. Mariana Islands EEZ
N. Mariana Islands EEZ
N. Mariana Islands EEZ
N. Mariana Islands EEZ
N. Mariana Islands EEZTable 5a. Number of biopsy samples collected, by each stratum. *: Including one mother and calf pair in theSouthern strata.
North
(YS1)
10

BiopsyBryde’s whale

South
(YS2)
6*

Total
16

Table 5b. Number of biopsy samples collected, by each stratum. Including one mother and calf pair in theSouthern strata.
Est. bodylengthnumberof hitnumberofsampleSampleNo.

equipment

3

1

1

J14NYS1Br09

Crossbow

12.0

1

0

0

-

Crossbow

13.0

4

0

0

-

Crossbow

00:21:22

11.7

2

1

1

J14NYS1Br10

Crossbow

06:46:30

00:16:11

12.8

4

1

1

J14NYS1Br11

Crossbow

09:59:12

00:12:10

12.6

2

0

0

-

Crossbow

17:08:42

17:22:18

00:13:36

12.0

0

0

0

-

Crossbow

2452

12:27:58

12:52:08

00:24:10

12.8

4

0

0

-

Crossbow

152

1818

06:26:35

06:51:30

00:24:55

12.7

3

0

0

-

Crossbow

150

3928

08:20:23

08:50:41

00:30:18

12.2

7

1

0

-

Crossbow

4449

150

2794

10:38:58

10:58:03

00:19:05

12.4

2

0

0

-

Crossbow

5960

148

5421

12:45:58

12:54:57

00:08:59

12.5

1

0

0

-

Crossbow

21

5980

148

5330

13:05:16

13:21:22

00:16:06

13.0 12.7

2

2

1

J14NYS1Br12

Crossbow

2

21

5349

148

5189

14:08:49

14:22:59

00:14:10

13.1 9.0

4

2

2

J14NYS1Br13 ・
J14NYS1B14

Crossbow

Bryde's

1

25

1206

151

3306

10:56:05

11:17:54

00:21:49

13.5

3

0

0

-

Crossbow

Bryde's

1

25

5696

152

3410

09:50:50

10:18:25

00:27:35

11.8

3

0

0

-

Crossbow5

Bryde's

1

27

1988

167

3963

14:49:04

14:59:36

00:10:32

13.5

4

0

0

-

Crossbow

201408252

Bryde's

1

28

1266

166

5182

10:09:14

10:15:28

00:06:14

12.2

1

1

1

J14NYS2Br18

Crossbow

YS2

201408253

Bryde's

1

28

2657

166

3816

12:00:21

12:08:13

00:07:52

12.2

4

1

1

J14NYS2Br19

Crossbow

YS2

20140825

4

Bryde's

1

28

3755

166

3202

13:26:13

13:42:42

00:16:29

12.8

4

0

0

-

Crossbow

YS2

201408283

Bryde's

1

27

1750

162

4597

10:22:13

10:24:13

00:02:00

13.4

1

1

1

J14NYS2Br20

Crossbow

YS2

201408291

Bryde's

1

26

0954

161

4517

07:30:34

07:45:23

00:14:49

12.7

3

1

1

J14NYS2Br21

Crossbow

YS2

201408292

Bryde's

1

26

0928

161

4494

07:50:40

07:56:28

00:05:48

12.5

4

1

1

J14NYS2Br22

Crossbow

YS2

201408293

Bryde's

1

25

5707

161

3422

09:33:03

09:36:43

00:03:40

13.8

3

1

1

J14NYS2Br23

Crossbow

YS2

20140829

4

Bryde's

1

25

4894

161

2698

10:33:00

10:37:1100:04:11

12.6

2

1

1

J14NYS2Br24

Crossbow

YS2

20140829

7

Bryde's

1

25

2768

161

0805

13:42:01

14:00:09

00:18:08

12.8

3

0

0

-

Crossbow

YS2

20140830

2

Bryde's

1

25

2320

160

2344

08:29:10

08:31:43

00:02:33

12.4

1

1

1

J14NYS2Br25

Crossbow

YS2

20140831

1

Bryde's

1

26

3728

159

1736

06:46:11

06:52:26

00:06:15

12.8

2

2

1

J14NYS2Br26

Crossbow

YS2

201409072

Bryde's

1

26

4083

141

1354

11:45:45

11:54:16

00:08:31

12.8

1

1

1

J14NYS2Br27

Crossbow

Sight

Species

Sighted Position

Vessel

Date

size

Lat.

[min.]

Long.

[min.]

of BX

of BX

duration

YS1

201408122

Bryde's

1

23

4740

143

4035

12:01:20

12:06:05

00:04:45

of target
ind. [m]11.3

YS1

20140812

3

Bryde's

1

23

3758

143

5220

13:26:55

13:43:08

00:16:13

YS1

20140823

3

Bryde's

1

22

4252

167

2910

14:28:01

14:52:01

00:24:00

YS1

201408273

Bryde's

1

23

5259

161

3615

17:05:05

17:26:27

YS1

201408281

Bryde's

1

23

5804

161

3396

06:30:19

YS1

201408288

Bryde's

1

24

1465

161

1920

09:47:02

YS1

20140828

11

Bryde's

2

24

4731

160

2691

YS1

20140831

1

Bryde's

1

20

1941

156

YS1

201409041

Bryde's

1

24

2089

YS1

201409051

Bryde's

1

24

103

YS1

20140905

4

Bryde's

1

23

YS1

201409062

Bryde's

2

21

YS1

201409063

Bryde's

2

YS1

20140906

4

Bryde's

YS2

20140807

2

YS2

20140808

2

YS2

20140824

YS2

No.

Scl.

Start time

End time

6

Experiment

numberof shoot

Notes.

Motherand calfpairSC/66a/IAxx

Figure. 1a. Map of the western North Pacific showing the sub-areas defined for the western North PacificBryde’s whales. Note: the boundary between the 1W and 1E sub-areas is now set at 165°E (IWC, 2007).
Red boundary line shows the research area of this survey.

Figure 1b. Recent sighting surveys conducted in the North Pacific including IWC-POWER surveys (2010-2014).
Coloured areas represent surveys including the present survey as “(e)”, referred from (IWC, 2015).

7

SC/66a/IAxx

Figure 1c. The cruise track line for the northern and southern strata with Japan and US EEZ.

35°N

30°N

(

(

25°N

(
(
(
(
20°N

135°E

(

(

(
(
( (
(
(
!

140°E

(!!
(

145°E

(!
(
(!(
(
(
(
(
!
!
(
(
(

155°E

(
((
(
((

(

150°E

(
(
(
((!

(

160°E

165°E

170°E

Figure 2. Positions of Bryde’s (circle) whale sightings including mother and calf pairs (black circle).

8

SC/66a/IAxx

35°N

30°N

(

(

25°N

(

(
(
((
(

(
(

(

!
(

20°N

135°E

140°E

145°E

150°E

155°E

160°E

165°E

170°E

Figure 3. Positions of biopsy sample collected from Bryde’s whales (white square) and mother and calf pair ofBryde’s whale (black circle).

35°N

*
*

30°N

*
*
*

25°N

**

*
*

*
*

*
*

20°N

135°E

*

**

140°E

145°E

150°E

155°E

160°E

Figure 4. Positions of sperm (circle) whale sightings in the research area.

9

165°E

170°E

SC/66a/IAxx

APPENDIX A.

SHIP SPECIFICATIONS AND CREW LIST OF YUSHIN-MARU ANDYUSHIN-MARU NO.2.

Ship photo:

Ship specifications:
Call sign
Length overall [m]Molded breadth [m]Gross tonnage (GT)Barrel height [m]Upper bridge height [m]Bow height [m]Engine power [PS / kW]

Yushin-Maru
JLZS
69.61
724
19.5
13.5
11.5
6.5
5280 / 3900

Yushin-Maru No.2
JPPV
69.61
747
19.5
13.5
11.5
6.5
5280 / 3900

Researcher
Captain
Chief Officer
Second Officer
Chief Engineer
First Engineer
Second Engineer
Third Engineer
FiremanChief Operator
Boatswain
Quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster
Sailor
SailorChief Steward
Steward

Yushin-Maru
Futoshi Yamaguchi
Chikamasa Okoshi
Shintarou Takeda
Tomoya Hirai
Yasunari Murai
Takayuki Hagiwara
Fumiyoshi Shimoda
Takashi Matsubara
Ryutaro Masui
Kenji Tsuda
Takuitsu Abe
Norihiko Nakamura
Kazumitsu Kurisu
Takashi Kominami
Kosuke Matsuguchi
Yuki Yoshino
Yuto Yamauchi
Seichi Hamashita-

Yushin-Maru No.2
Hideto Honma
Koji Maki
Takehisa Koyanagi
Chikara Omukai
Akihide Oide
Shigeki Miyamoto
Koji Takamatsu
Takeshi Hamano
Takeshi Semii
Kenji Wakatsuki
Takashi Kurogi
Takato Sawabe
Takahiro Nagai
Hayata Nawa
Hiroaki Yamaya
Kenichi Yasunaga
Kanji Mae

Crew list:10SC/66a/IAxx

Appendix B.

Oversight for the 2014 Japanese dedicated sighting survey in the western North PacificKoji Matsuoka
Institute of Cetacean Research
4-5, Toyomi, Chuo, Tokyo, 104-0055, JAPANThe plan of this survey was presented to the 2014 IWC/SC meeting (Matsuoka et al., 2014) and endorsedby the Scientific Committee (IWC, 2014). On behalf of the IWC Scientific Committee I carried out theoversight work during the 2014 Japanese dedicated sighting survey in the western North Pacific. This is abrief report of the oversight activities conducted on that survey.
Preparatory work
The pre-cruise meeting carried out at Tokyo and at Shigama on 31 July 2015. The survey organizers,
researchers and crewmembers also participated in that meeting. During the meeting the organizes explained
the objective of the survey and the procedure to be used for both sightings and experiments. The plannedsighting procedure was in order with that agreed by the Scientific Committee. The research vessels
Yushin-Maru and Yushin-Maru No.2 were engaged for this survey.
The research area was set between 20° N and 30° N and between 140° E and 170° E (the sub-area 1 forNorth Pacific Bryde’s whales). The research area was divided into northern and southern strata by 25°N
latitude. The US EEZ in the southern stratum (Northern Mariana Islands EEZ and Marshall Islands EEZ)
was also surveyed under a US research permit except biopsy permit. The survey was conducted between 5
August and 5 September. The vessels were assigned to cover pre-determined transects in these areas by thepassing with abeam closing mode. Two experienced researcher was assigned to work on board each vessel.
Oversight method and period
The research activities of the vessels were oversight by e-mail communication and by examining the daily
report prepared by each researchers on board. In some instances Inmarsat satellite telephone calls weremade for further clarification of the activities, procedure and sightings made. Further, geographicalpositions and weather information of each vessel were tracked each other per day. Over sight activity werecarried between 1 August and 14 September.
Brief narrative of the oversight vessel
Research vessels (YS1 and YS2) departed from Tokyo and Shiogama, Japan respectively on 1 August andstarted the survey in the research area on 5 August. The YS1 surveyed in the northern stratum (there are no
foreign EEZ), and YS2 surveyed in the southern stratum (including US EEZ). The vessels left the research areaon 9 September and arrived at Shimonoseki on 14 September.

Post-cruise meeting
I participated in a post-cruise meeting held on 14 September 2015. Survey organizers, researchers and the
Captain participated in that meeting. Apart to discuss and assess the results of the surveys, the researchers
engaged in the verification and checking of data.
Conclusion
All equipment and the survey method of each vessel were the same as in the past sighting surveys. The
design of the survey strata and track lines were improved to cover each strata completely. The plannedsighting procedure was in accordance with the guideline agreed by the SC (IWC, 2005). Objectives andprocedure of the survey were explained to the captains, officers, crew and researcher in advance. I thenendorse the information and data obtained during the 2014 Japanese dedicated sighting survey in thewestern North Pacific.
11

SC/66a/IAxx

Reference
IWC. 2005. Report of the Scientific Committee. Annex D. Report of the sub-committee on the Revised
Management Procedure. Appendix 3. Requirements and Guidelines for Conducting Surveys andAnalysing Data within the Revised Management Scheme. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. (Suppl.)
7:92-101.
IWC. 2014. Report of the Scientific Committee. Annex G. 27pp. Bled, Slovenia, 2014. [Paper available atthe IWC Office].
Matsuoka, K., Hakamada, T. and Miyashita, T., 2014. Research plan for a cetacean sighting surveys in theWestern North Pacific in 2014. SC/65b/IA07. 3pp. [Paper available at the IWC Office].

12