SC/66a/SP**

Cruise Report of the Second Phase of the Japanese Whale
Research Program under Special Permit in the Western North
Pacific (JARPN II) in 2014 (part I) – Offshore component –Tsutomu Tamura1), Naohisa Kanda2),1), Kazuyoshi Nakai1), Nagisa Sakamoto1), Yuta Okitsu1), Koichiro
Kato4), Kouhei Yoshii4), Masakatsu Mori3), Masaomi Tsunekawa3), Shinya Kawabe3), Futoshi Yamaguchi3),
Hideto Honma3) and Tomoyuki Ogawa3)
1) Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0055, Japan,
2) JAPAN NUS Co., Ltd., 7-5-25 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan3) Kyodo Senpaku Co. Ltd., 4-5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0055, Japan,
4) Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Faculty of Marine Science, 4-5-7, Konan, Minatoku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan
Contact e-mail: tamura@cetacean.jp
ABSTRACTThe 13th cruise of the full-scale Second Phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit
in the Western North Pacific (JARPN II) -offshore component- was conducted in sub-areas 7, 8 and 9 of thewestern North Pacific. There were two main research components in the 2014 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 dedicated sighting vessels (SVs) (dedicated sighting survey component). The whale
sampling survey was carried out from 16 May to 29 July 2014. A total of 3,307n.miles was surveyed in aperiod of 67 days by the SSVs. A total of two common minke, 346 sei, 116 Bryde’s, 69 sperm, eight blue,
19 fin and five 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 June and July, sei whales fed
mainly on copepods followed by mackerels and Japanese sardine in sub-areas 8 and 9. Bryde’s whales fed
mainly on Japanese anchovy followed by mackerels in sub-areas 7 and 8. Two dedicated sighting surveys
were carried out from 11 May to 29 June in sub-areas 7, 8 and 9, from 1 August to 14 September in western
North Pacific. A total of 2,823 and 4,813n.miles was surveyed during those surveys by the SVs, respectively.
Data obtained in this research will be used in the elucidation of the role of whales in the marine ecosystemthrough 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, JARPN II 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 JARPN II 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 by small
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).

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SC/66a/SP**The research area of the offshore component is set in sub-areas 7, 8 and 9, and the target species and sample
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 is composed of threemain components: whale sampling survey, dedicated sighting survey and whale prey surveys.
In January 2009, IWC/SC conducted the Expert Workshop to review the ongoing JARPN II Programme(IWC, 2009) for the first period (2002-2007). The results presented on the three main objectives of JARPN
II were discussed by an Experts Panel. Constructive discussions were conducted and some recommendations
were offered by the EP. Some of those recommendations were already responded by Japanese scientists(Pastene, et al., 2010).
Following the March 31, 2014 Judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case Whaling in
the Antarctic (Australia v. Japan: New Zealand intervening), the Government of Japan voluntarily reviewed
the state of JARPN II. Overall research objectives, the research area and research methodology remain thesame as those specified in the original JARPN II research plan (SC/56/01). This voluntary review resulted in
the reprioritization of 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. Sampling of sperm and minke
whales in offshore component was suspended because their role in the study of interactions between whales
and fisheries in the coastal waters seemed to be limited. Sei whale sample size of 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 originalplan) of which 25 were studied using only non-lethal methods. A larger number of Bryde’s whales wereallocated to non-lethal methods because they were better studied than sei whales through the Comprehensive
Assessment and the Implementation Review. In costal component, Minke whale sample size of 114 (57 ineach of the spring and autumn season as recalculated with the latest information) of which 12 (6 in each of
the periods) were studied using only non-lethal means. A study for verifying the feasibility of using nonlethal 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) commanded 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 JARPN II 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; Bando et al., 2010, 2013, 2014; Matsuoka et al., 2007; Yasunaga et al.,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 JARPN
II (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; Bando et al., 2010, 2013, 2014; Matsuoka et al.,2008; Yasunaga et al., 2011). In the research area, sighting was conducted mainly under closing mode.
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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 Research Institute 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 collection of whale samples was
still possible. These two mode surveys were recorded separately for future analysis. Also an ASP mode wasused (closing mode survey without sampling activities under normal sighting conditions). Closing was
performed mainly on sightings of common minke, Bryde’s and sei whales. Furthermore closing was madeon 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 2014 JARPN II 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: 06:30-18:30 (12hrs) in local time), if collection of whale samples was considered possible. For schools consisting of two or
more animals, numbering was made for all the whales in the school; to set 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 and sperm
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 sampled.

Dedicated Sighting survey
A report of the dedicated sighting surveys was presented by Matsuoka et al. (2015). Here just a brief outline
is presented. Two independent surveys were conducted in this season.
Research area
First survey: Sub-areas 7, 8 and 9
Second survey: 20-30N, 140-170E
Research vessel
The YS1, YS2 and Yushin Maru No.3 (YS3: 742GT) were used as dedicated sighting vessel (SV).
Methods for setting cruise track line and sighting procedure
An independent track line for 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.

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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.

RESULTS
Whale sampling survey
Actual survey periods, track lines and searching distances
Cruise period: Between 16 May and 29 July (75 days)
Research period: Between 20 May and 25 July (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 3,307 n.miles
Sightings of common minke, sei, Bryde’s and sperm whales
A total of two schools (two individuals) of common minke, 195 schools (346 ind.) of sei, 94 schools (116ind.) of Bryde’s and 94 schools (116 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
(seven sch./eight ind.), fin (16 sch./19 ind.) and humpback (four sch./five ind.) whales (Figure 2).
Sampling and biological research on Bryde’s and sei whales
A total of 90 sei whales (male: 38, female: 52 ind.) and 25 Bryde’s whales (male: 6, female: 19 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 43 research items was covered. These items are related to the studies
conducted under the three main objectives of the JARPN II: 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 13.45m and14.11m for males and females, respectively. For Bryde’s whales, those were 11.93m and 12.49m,
respectively.
Geographical distribution of sei and Bryde’s whale samples is shown in Figure 3 based on the sighting
positions.
Distribution and food habits of whales sampled
In this survey, sei whales were sampled in the sub-areas 8 and 9 and they fed mainly on copepods (46.7%),
followed by mackerels (23.3%), Japanese sardine (16.7%), Japanese anchovy (5.0%), Pacific saury (5.0%)
and some mesopelagic fishes (3.3%) (Table 5).
In this survey, Bryde’s whales were sampled in the sub-areas 7 and 8 and they fed mainly on Japanese
anchovy (91.7%), followed by Mackerels (8.3%) (Table 5).
Experiments
A detail report of the non-research activity in 2014 JARPN II was presented in Mogoe et al (2015). In thissection, the summary of the results was described.
Sighting distance and angle experiment
A sighting distance and angle experiment was performed on 3 June by YS1 and YS2. The results of thisexperiment will be used in calculation of abundance estimates.
Photo-ID4

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There was no chance for the Photo-ID by the SSVs.
Biopsy sampling
Biopsy samples were collected from 16 sei and 25 Bryde’s whales using a compound-crossbow.
Feeding behaviour
No case of feeding was observed during the survey.
Excretion and vomiting behaviour
A total of two schools of common minke, 195 schools of sei, 94 schools of Bryde’s was observed.
As a result, 12 cases (11 sei and one Bryde’s whales) of excretion behaviour were observed during the survey.
Feces samples were collected from three 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. Small piece of plastic was observed in the stomachs offour Bryde’s and 41 sei whales. Small piece of wood was observed in the stomachs of one Bryde’s and three
sei whales. Small piece of net was observed in the stomachs of one sei whale.
Dedicated Sighting survey
Here just a brief outline of the results is presented. The details are described in Matsuoka (2015).
Actual research periods and searching distance
Cruise period:First survey: Between 16 May and 29 July (49 days; YS3)
Second survey : Between 1 August and 14 September (45 days; YS1 and YS2)
Searching distance:
First survey: 2,823 n.miles (YS3)
Second survey : 2,347 n.miles (YS1); 2,466 n.miles (YS2)
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, 135 schools (333 ind.) of sei, 30 schools (42 ind.) of Bryde’s and 41
schools (93 ind.) of sperm whales was sighted during first survey. During second survey, a total of 56 schools(72 ind.) of Bryde’s and 24 schools (70 ind.) of sperm whales was sighted.
Sightings of other large cetacean species
Large baleen whales such as fin (15 schools/18 individuals), blue (13 sch./16 ind.), humpback (one sch./oneind.) and right (one sch./one ind.) whales were sighted during the first survey. During the second survey, nocase of other large whales were sighted.
Experiments
Photo-ID
A total of one humpback, 12 blue whales and one right whale was photographed during first survey.
There was no chance for the Photo-ID during the second survey.
Biopsy sampling
During first survey, biopsy sampling was not carried out for logistical reason.
Biopsy samples were collected from 16 Bryde’s whales using a compound-crossbow during second survey.
Feeding behaviour
One case of feeding behaviour by Bryde’s whales (one schools/three individuals) was observed during thefirst survey. There was no case for the observation of feeding behaviour during the second survey.
Excretion and vomiting behaviour
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A total of two schools of common minke, 134 schools of sei, 30 schools of Bryde’s was observed.
As a result, 12 cases (10 sei and two Bryde’s whales) of excretion behaviour were observed during the firstsurvey. No case of excretion or vomiting was observed during the second survey.

DISCUSSION
In this year, survey was conducted in early summer (May- July). Few survey effort was applied toappropriate temperature zone (10-15 0C) for common minke whales and as a result, only low number ofcommon 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 JARPN II (2002 to 2013), they fed on Japanese anchovy and copepods
dominantly during survey season in most of years. During the present survey, sei whales were sampled inearly summer in sub-areas 8 and 9. Main prey species of sampled sei whales were mainly copepods,
Japanese sardine and mackerels. In recent surveys, mackerels were increasingly appeared in stomach
contents, which might indicate recovery of this resource and change of available prey species for sei
whales. And Japanese sardine was confirmed as dominant prey species at first in JARPN II. Thisphenomenon seems to fish species replacement from Japanese anchovy to Japanese sardine in the researcharea.
Bryde’s whale
From our research results of past JARPN II (2000 to 2013), the dominant prey species of Bryde’s whale
was Japanese anchovy and krill during May to September. There was seasonal change of prey species. 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 part of sub-area
9, oceanic lightfish were also important prey species in August. During the present survey, Bryde’s whale
fed mainly on Japanese anchovy followed by mackerels in July in the sub-areas 7 and 8.
Summary of yearly change of prey species
Recently years, Japanese sardine was increasingly appeared in stomach contents of sei whales sampledoffshore and common minke whales sampled Kushiro region (Kishiro et al., 2014; Yoshida et al., 2013,2015). The dominant prey of common minke whales was Japanese sardine around northern part of Japan’s
coastal region in 1980’s (Kasamatsu and Tanaka, 1992). After depletion of Japanese sardine resources inlate of 1980’s, common minke whales switched their dominant prey from Japanese sardine to Japanese
anchovy. This phenomenon seems to fish species replacement from Japanese anchovy to Japanese sardine
in the research areas 8 and 9.
It is reasonable to assume that baleen whale species do not have a strong preference for a particular preyspecies, changes in the prey of baleen whales probably reflect changes in the abundance of available preyspecies in the area.

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, andYoshihiro Fujise, Hiroshi Hatanaka, Seiji Ohsumi, L.A. Pastene, Genta Yasunaga and Shigetoshi Nishiwaki
of the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) for their guidance in the design and implementation of theresearch. We thank research technicians, Tatsuo Sasaki and Fumikazu Ishii of Kyodo Senpaku Kaisya Ltd.
for their contribution. Masao Kuramochi of the Government of Japan, served as onboard inspector. We thankall crew of the research vessels (NM, YS1, YS2, and YS3) and the staff of the ICR, Kyodo-Senpaku Co. Ltd
and the Fisheries Research Agency of Japan for their effort and collaboration.

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Tamura, T., Otani, S., Kiwada, H., Mori, M., Konishi, K., Isoda, T., Wada, A., Ogihara, M., Hasegawa, A., Kumagai, S., Komatsu, W.,
Hayasaka, K., Fukutome, M., Siozaki, M., Zharikov, K.A, NA, Jong-Hun., Ogawa, T, Watanabe, H., Yonezaki, S, Inagake, D. and
Kawahara, S. 2006. Cruise report of the second phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Western
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. and Ogawa,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.
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 Whale
Research Program under Special Permit in the Western North Pacific (JARPN II) in 2010 (part I) - Offshore component –. 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
the western North Pacific (JARPN II) in 2014 (Part III) – Coastal component off Kushiro. Paper SC/66a/SP** presented to the IWC
Scientific Committee, May 2015, **pp.
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
report of the Japanese Whale Research Program under a Special Permit in the North Pacific in 1998. Paper SC/51/RMP7 presented to
the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1999 (unpublished). 20pp.

8

SC/66a/SP**

Table 1. Whale species and number of sightings in the 2014 JARPN II survey (no. schools/no. individuals)
Sighting/Sampling vessels (YS1 and YS2)
Cetacean species

Primary
Sch.

Secondary

Ind.

Sch.

Ind.

Total
Sch. Ind.

Common minke whale

2

2

0

0

2

2

Sei whale

68

106

127

240

195

346

Bryde's whale

56

68

38

48

94

116

Sperm whale

33

45

18

24

51

69

Blue whale

2

2

5

6

7

8

Fin whale

9

11

7

8

16

19

Humpback whale

1

1

3

4

4

5

Sighting vessels (YS, YS2 and YS3)First suvey (YS3)
Cetacean species

PrimarySch.

Common minke whale

Secondary

Ind.

Sch.

Ind.

Second suvey (YS1 and YS2)
Total

Primary

Secondary

Total

Sch. Ind.

Sch. Ind.

Sch. Ind.

Sch. Ind.

2

2

0

0

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

Sei whale

134

332

1

1

135

333

0

0

0

0

0

0

Bryde's whale

30

42

0

0

30

42

56

72

0

0

56

72

Sperm whale

37

85

4

8

41

93

24

70

0

0

24

70

Blue whale

12

15

1

1

13

16

0

0

0

0

0

0

Fin whale

14

16

1

2

15

18

0

0

0

0

0

0

Humpback whale

1

1

1

1

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

Right whale

1

1

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

9

SC/66a/SP**

Table 2. Summary of biological data and samples collected during the 2014 JARPN II survey.

Research items

Sei whale

Bryde's whale

F

M

Total

F

M

Total

Measurement of body length

52

38

90

19

6

25

Measurement of external body proportion

52

38

90

19

6

25

Photographic record of external characters

52

38

90

19

6

25

Record of Diatom film

52

38

90

19

6

25

Standard measurement of blubber thickness (five points)

52

37

89

18

6

24

Detailed measurement of blubber thickness (eleven points)

0

1

1

1

0

1

Measurement of body weight

52

38

90

19

6

25

Measurement of body weight by parts

0

1

1

1

0

1

Collection of skin tissue for genetic study

52

38

90

19

6

25

Collection of blubber, muscle, liver and kidney tissues for organochlorines analysis

52

38

90

19

6

25

Collection of blubber and muscle tissues for nutritional compornent analysis

3

2

5

3

2

5

Collection of lung tissue for atmospheric analysis

-

10

10

-

4

4

Collection of tissues for various analyses

52

38

90

19

6

25

Observation of lactation status

52

-

52

19

-

19

Measurement of mammary gland

52

-

52

19

-

19

Collection of ovary

52

-

52

19

-

19

Photographic record of foetus

18

12

30

4

6

11*

Identification of foetal sex (by visual observation)

18

12

30

4

6

11*

Measurement of foetal length and weight

18

12

30

4

6

11*

Collection of foetal blubber tissue for genetic study

18

12

30

4

6

11*

Collection of testis (weight and histological sample)

-

38

38

-

6

6

Collection of testis for bacteial inspection

-

38

38

-

6

6

Photographic record of testis

-

38

38

-

6

6

Collection of plasma sample

51

38

89

19

6

25

Observation of stomach contents (conventional record)

52

38

90

19

6

25

Measurement of stomach content weight in each compartment

52

38

90

19

6

25

Collection of stomach contents for feeding study

40

28

68

10

4

14

Collection of stomach contents for various analyses

9

8

17

4

1

5

Measurement of stomach contents (prey body length and weight)

17

7

24

5

1

6

Collection of intestines contents for feeding study

52

38

90

19

6

25

Observation of appearance of marine debris

52

38

90

19

6

25

Photographic record of marine debris

27

16

43

4

1

5

Record of appearance of external parasites

52

38

90

19

6

25

Collection of external parasites

1

0

1

1

1

2

Record of appearance of internal parasites

52

38

90

19

6

25

Collection of earplug for age determination

52

38

90

19

6

25

Collection of lens for age determination

52

38

90

19

6

25

Collecion of baleen plate for morphological study and age determination

0

1

1

1

0

1

Collection of vertebral epiphyses

52

38

90

19

6

25

Measurement of brain weight

0

1

1

1

0

1

Measurement of skull length and breadth

49

34

83

18

5

23

Collection of testis for morphological study

-

-

-

-

1

1

Collection of tissue for pathological study

2

0

2

0

0

0

*： including a fetuse of sex unidentified.

10

SC/66a/SP**

Table 3. Sex and sexual maturity composition of whales sampled during the 2014 JARPN II survey.

Species

Sub
area

Male
Imm. Mat. Total

SA7

Sei

SA8
SA9
Combined
SA7

Bryde's

SA8
SA9
Combined

0
1
9
10
2
0
0
2

0
7
21
28
3
1
0
4

0
8
30
38
5
1
0
6

Female
Mat.
Total
Imm.
Total
Ovu. Rest. Preg. Lact. Total
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
10
2
12
14
22
9
2
4
20
3
29
38
68
11
2
4
30
5
41
52
90
3
0
0
3
1
4
7
12
2
0
0
7
1
8
10
11
1
0
0
1
0
1
2
2
6
0
0
11
2
13
19
25

Table 4. Body length (m) of whales sampled during the 2014 JARPN II survey.
Species

Sei

Bryde's

Male

Female

Sub
area

n

SA7

0

NA

NA

NA

NA

0

NA

NA

NA

NA

SA8

8

13.87

0.61

12.91

14.58

13

14.28

0.95

12.77

15.56

mean

S.D.

min

max

n

mean

S.D.

min

max

SA9

30

13.34

0.82

11.02

14.33

39

14.05

0.91

12.60

15.65

Combined

38

13.45

0.80

11.02

14.58

52

14.11

0.91

12.60

15.65

SA7

5

11.79

1.22

9.81

12.64

8

11.78

2.04

7.70

14.18

SA8

1

12.65

NA

12.65

12.65

9

13.16

0.84

11.59

14.10

SA9

0

NA

NA

NA

NA

2

12.31

1.22

11.44

13.17

Combined

6

11.93

1.14

9.81

12.65

19

12.49

1.57

7.70

14.18

Table 5. Prey species and stomach contents weight (1st. + 2nd. stomachs) in whales sampled during the2014 JARPN II survey.
Species

Dominant prey species

N%

Range of weight
(kg)

Sei
Copepods
Fish

Neocalanus spp.
Japanese anchovy
Japanese sardine
Mackerels
Pacific saury
Others

28
3
10
14
3
2

46.7
5.0
16.7
23.3
5.0
3.3

0.12
4.50
5.98
1.94
0.82
2.06

-

155.39328.66433.02570.83
19.22
5.80

Fish

Japanese anchovy
Mackerels

11
1

91.7
8.3

5.94
0.60

-

438.430.60

Bryde's11

SC/66a/SP**

Table 7. Summary of biopsy skin sampling for some baleen whale species in the 2014 JARPN II offshore
component.

Species

Ship

Targeted

NumberNumberNumberindividuals

of

of

of

sch./inds.

shootshits

samples

(A)

(B)

(C)

Effortsamplesampleperper(minute)

trial

hit

(D)

(E)

(D)/(B)(D)/(C)

Sei

SSVs

42

63

21

16

1,275

0.25

0.76

Bryde's

SSVs

39

67

31

25

789

0.37

0.81

9
7

8

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

12

SC/66a/SP**

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

SC/66a/SP**

Figure 4. Yearly changes of prey species (Above: sei whale, Below: Bryde’s whales).

14