SC/56/O12

Cruise Report of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the
Antarctic (JARPA) Area IV and Eastern Part of Area III in 2003/2004
Hajime Ishikawa1), Seiji Otani1), Hiroshi Kiwada1), Tatsuya Isoda1), Daisuke Tohyama2), Kenji Honjo1), Atsushi
Hasegawa1), Tatsuma Terao1), Teppei Kushimoto1), Takuro Ohshima1), Kazuma Sugiyama1), Takashi Sasaki1), Shin
Itoh1), Toru Takamatsu1) and Takashi Yoshida2).
Contact e-mail: ishikawa@cetacean.jp
ABSTRACTThe seventeenth year of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA) was
conducted in Area IV and eastern part of Area III (Area IIIE) from 30 November 2003 to 3 March 2004. One sighting
vessel (SV), three sighting and sampling vessels (SSVs) and one research base ship were engaged in the research. The
SV covered 7,000.4 nautical miles of searching distance and made primary sightings of 454 schools / 1,756 individualof Antarctic minke whales Balaenoptera bonaerensis. Three SSVs searched a total of 12,287.0 n. miles and sighted 638
schools / 1,494 individual of Antarctic minke whales as primary sightings. The primary sightings of humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae made by the SV and the SSVs were 597 schools / 1,138 individual and 1,093 schools / 1,996
individual, respectively. Antarctic minke whale was the most dominant species in Area IIIE, however, sightings of
humpback whales overwhelmed those of Antarctic minke whales in Area IV. Antarctic minke whales occurred in highdensity near ice edge in Area IIIE and coastal water of the Davis Sea (88°E-95°E) in Area IV where the ice edge
retreated widely. On the other hand, they were relatively few in the East-south stratum in Area IV even near the iceedge where dense distribution of them was observed in the previous research. Humpback whales distributed widely off
the Area IIIE and 90°E-110°E in Area IV, and highly abundant even near the ice edge of Area IV except for the Davis
Sea and Prydz Bay. It has been observed southward expansion of distributions of humpback whales in recent years. The
increases of humpback whales may result in inter species competition with Antarctic minke whales. A total of 440
Antarctic minke whales was sampled (110 from Area IIIE and 330 from Area IV). A total of 72 biopsy samples was
obtained from humpback, blue, fin and right whales by the SV and SSVs. The SV conducted an oceanographic survey
using a passive acoustic system, Electric Particle Counting and Sizing System (EPCS), CTD, XCTD and XBT. One of
the SSVs also conducted an oceanographic survey using EPCS.

KEYWORDS: JARPA, CRUISE REPORT, ANTARCTIC MINKE WHALE, HUMPBACK WHALE--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1) The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4 -5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan,2) Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha, Ltd., 4 -5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan,1

INTRODUCTION
The Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA) has been conducted every year
since the 1987/88 season. In compliance with Article VIII of the International Convention for the Regulation of
Whaling, JARPA is authorized by the Government of Japan and planned and conducted by the Institute of Cetacean
Research (ICR). After two seasons of feasibility research in 1987/88 and 1988/89, full-scale research started in the
1989/90 season. The program is designed to repeat surveys in the Antarctic Areas IV and V alternatively in each of
the sixteen years of the research period. From the 1995/96 season, the survey area was expanded into a part of Areas
III and VI to improve the stock structure study (Government of Japan, 1987a, 1987b, 1989, 1995).

The original

objective of the expansion to the eastern part of Area III (Area IIIE) in 1995/96 season was a feasibility study on stock
identification to examine the hypothesis of the occurrence of more than one stock in Areas IV and V (Government ofJapan, 1995). Estimation of biological parameters, which is the main objective of the JARPA, should ideally be carriedout on the basis of genetically identified stock units. Then for this objective of the JARPA, it is very important tocorroborate the hypotheses on stock identity derived from genetic and non-genetic analyses under JARPA (e.g. Pastene
et al. 1996; Fujise, 1995). The analyses of genetic data suggested a lot of movement of minke whale across the
IWC-boundary between Areas IV and V. This result has been corroborated recently by analyses of several independent
biological markers. Therefore these analyses provide no biological support for a stock boundary at 130°E. Rather theseresults are consistent with a main (core) stock occupying Area IV and part of Area V. Different stocks could occur atthe lateral sectors of the JARPA research Area as suggested by some degree of heterogeneity in Areas IIIE (at least
detected by some of the approaches being used) and Area VIW. Then the additional surveys in Areas IIIE and VIW are
important to investigate distribution and boundaries (geographical and temporal) of stocks. The research plan for the
2003/2004 JARPA was submitted to the 55th Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission and theScientific Committee (IWC/ SC) meeting (Government of Japan, 2003). As in the past, the objectives of the researchwere as follows; 1) estimation of biological parameters of minke whale stock, 2) elucidation of the role of whales in the
Antarctic ecosystem, 3) elucidation of the effect of environmental changes on cetaceans, and 4) elucidation of the stock
structure of the Southern Hemisphere minke whales (Antarctic minke whales) to improve the stock management.
This paper reports on the seventeenth cruise of the JARPA, which was conducted from 30 November 2003 to 3
March 2004 in the Antarctic Area IV and Area IIIE.
RESEARCH METHODS
Research area
The research area in the present survey was composed of the eastern part of Area III (Area IIIE, 35°E – 70°E) and theentire Area IV (70°E - 130°E) south of 60°S (Fig. 1). Area IV was divided into two sectors, east and west, by the 100°E.
They were further divided into two strata, a south stratum extending from the ice edge to a locus 45 n. miles, and anorth stratum extending from the northern boundary of the south stratum to the 60°S. As the north strata weresurveyed prior to the south strata, the southern boundary of the north strata was set at estimated latitude expecting aretreat of the ice edge at the time of the survey of the south strata. The southern boundary of the West-south stratum
between 70°E and 80°E was fixed at 66°S and Prydz Bay was defined as the southern area of this boundary. The surveyof each stratum in Area IV was conducted in the order of West-north, East-north, East-south, West-south and Prydz Bay.
Area IIIE was surveyed prior to Area IV for the purpose of collecting the W stock samples which may migrate early inthe feeding season.

2

Research vessels
Three vessels, Kyo Maru No.1 (K01; 812.08 GT), Yushin Maru No.2 (YS2; 747 GT) and Yushin Maru (YS1; 720 GT)
were engaged in sighting and sampling surveys (the sighting and sampling vessels; SSVs). Nisshin Maru (NM;7,638GT) served as a research base on which all biological examinations of collected samples were conducted. Kyoshin
Maru No.2 (KS2; 372 GT) was dedicated to sighting survey from which most of oceanographic surveys were conducted(the sighting vessel; SV).
Cruise track line and sighting and sampling method
Fig. 2 shows the track line of the SV and SSVs. The method for establishment of the cruise track line in Area IV was
the same as for previous surveys (Nishiwaki et al. 1996, Ishikawa et al. 1998, Ishikawa et al. 2000). In Area IIIE,
westbound and eastbound zigzag lines were set in 10°longitudinal intervals. The eastbound line was set south of
westbound line to cover the area appeared with retreat of ice edge during the westbound survey.
Sighting and sampling procedures were as in the previous JARPA surveys (Ishikawa et al. 1998, Ishikawa et al.
2000, Ishikawa et al. 2002). The sighting survey using SSVs was conducted under limited closing mode (when asighting of Antarctic minke whale was made on the predetermined track line, the vessel approached it and species andschool size were confirmed). SSVs followed parallel track lines 7 n. miles apart, at a standard speed of 11.5 knots. The
sighting survey using SV was conducted under limited closing mode and passing mode, i.e. even if sighting was madeon the predetermined track line, the vessel did not approach the whale directly and searching from the barrel was
uninterrupted. The survey was operated under optimal research conditions. In addition to the sightings of Antarctic
minke whales or whales suspected to be Antarctic minke whales, the SV and SSVs approached blue whale
Balaenoptera musculus, right whale Eubalaena glacialis for conducting some experiments. They also occasionallyapproached humpback whales and fin whale B. physalus for conducting experiments.

One Antarctic minke whale was

sampled randomly from each primary sighted school within 3 n. miles of the track line. The dwarf form minke whale
was not a target species for sampling.
Low and middle latitudinal sighting survey
During transit cruises, sighting surveys were conducted in the area between south of 30°S and north of 60°S except forareas within national exclusive economic zones (Fig. 1). The results of these surveys are not included in this report.
Experiments
Following experiments were conducted.
Sighting distance and angle experimentThis experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the accuracy of the information on sighting distance and sighting
angle given by observers of the SV and SSVs in this cruise. Observers on each vessel were required to assess eight setsof angles and distance from two platforms (barrel and upper bridge). All trials were conducted under good sighting
condition.
Photo-identification experiment
The following species were targeted for photographic record of natural markings during the surveys conducted from theSV, blue, humpback and right whales.

Photographic records of these species were also taken from the SSVs

occasionally.

3

Biopsy sampling
The species targeted for photo-identification experiments and fin whale Balaenoptera physalus were also targeted forbiopsy skin sampling using a crossbow. All collected samples were preserved at – 80°C
Satellite telemetry tagging
Satellite telemetry tag was developed from separated type (consisted of mounting part and transmitter) to united type.
Two of SSVs conducted this experiment using an air gun developed by ICR (Kasamatsu et al, 1991).
Oceanographic survey
SV conducted the following oceanographic survey; 1) hydro-acoustic survey using a passive acoustic system (EK500
38kHz, 120kHz, 200kHz, SIMRAD, Norway) to elucidate distribution and abundance of prey species of Antarctic
whales, 2) consecutive measuring of surface water temperature, conductivity, surface chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen andsurface particle by Electric Particle Counting and Sizing System (EPCS), 3) XBT, XCTD and CTD survey and 4)
marine debris recording in the research area. YS2 also conducted EPCS survey. All marine debris found in the stomachof Antarctic minke whales was recorded and collected on NM.
Biological research
Biological research on all sampled whales was conducted on NM.
OUTLINE OF THE RESEARCH ACTIVITIESAn outline of the research activities conducted during the 2003 /2004 JARPA survey is as follows.
Event

Sighting and sampling survey in theWest-north stratum in Area IV

21 November - 29 November 2003
30 November - 26 December 2003
30 November - 23 December 2003
26 December 2003 -10 January 2004
27 December 2003 -11 January 2004

Vessels
NM, SVand SSVs
SV and SSVs
SV*
SSVs
SV
SSVs

Sighting and sampling survey in the
East-north stratum in Area IV
Sighting and sampling survey in the
East-south stratum in Area IV
Sighting and sampling survey in theWest-south stratum in Area IV

11 January
12 January
25 January
25 January
7 February
12 February

2004
2004
2004
2004
2004
2004

SV
SSVs
SV
SSVs
SV
SSVs

Sighting and sampling survey in the Prydz Bay

26 February - 3 March
29 February - 1 March
4 March- 11 March
28 March 2004
31 March 2004

2004
2004
2004

SV*
SSVs
SV and SSVs
SSVs
NM, SV

Departure from Japan
Sighting survey in transit area.
Sighting and sampling survey in Area IIIE

Sighting survey in transit area.
Arrival at JapanDate
7 November 2003

- 24 January- 24 January- 7 February- 11 February- 25 February- 28 February* SSVs were allocated SV position after completion of sampling survey in each Area IV and Area IIIE.

4RESULTS
Searching effort
Table 1 shows the searching distances (n. miles) by each stratum. The SV covered 7,000.4 n. miles and the three SSVs
covered an average of 4,095.7 n. miles each. Total searching distance of one SV and three SSVs was 19,287.4 n.
miles (Area IIIE; 5,895.4, Area IV; 13,392.0). As SSVs were allocated to the sighting survey of un-surveyed area
after the sampling survey in each Area was completed, data obtained in such case was regarded as SV activity. The SV
conducted passing mode searching (NSP) for eight hours a day in principle. The ratio of NSP was 75.8 % of total
searching distance of the SV. The searching distance of SSVs was divided into searching survey with sampling
operation (NSC) and that without sampling operation (ASP). The ratio of ASP was 6.8 % of total searching distance of
the SSVs.
Species sighted
Tables 2a and 2b summarize the sightings made. Total primary sightings of Antarctic minke whales involved 1,092
schools / 3,250 individuals. Antarctic minke whale was the most dominant species in Area IIIE, however, sightings of
humpback whales overwhelmed those of Antarctic minke whales in Area IV. Antarctic minke whale was abundant innear ice edge in Area IIIE and coastal water of Davis Sea (88°E-95°E) in Area IV where the ice edge retreated widely.
On the other hand, they were relatively few in the East-south stratum in Area IV even near the ice edge. In the
East-south stratum, they were found to be concentrated only at small ice free area near the Budd coast of Antarctica(112°E) where the research fleet was difficult to enter because of drifting pack ice. In the Prydz Bay, they wereabundant in northeast area but sporadic in the bottom of the Bay (Fig. 3). Two dwarf minke whales were sighted in the
East-north stratum in Area IV.
Humpback whale was the most dominant species in all strata of Area IV except for the Prydz Bay. Total primarysightings of humpback whales involved 1,690 schools / 3,134 individuals. They distributed widely off the Area IIIE and
90°E-110°E in Area IV, and highly abundant even near the ice edge of Area IV except for the Davis Sea and Prydz Bay(Fig. 4). In Area IIIE and the Davis Sea where abundant Antarctic minke whales were observed, distribution of
humpback whales showed clear separation from Antarctic minke whales.
Table 3 shows density indices (DI: schools sighted / 100 n. miles searching distance) and mean school size (MSS) of
Antarctic minke whale and humpback whale in each stratum. Compared to Antarctic minke whale, the DI of humpback
whale was extremely high in southern strata (11.01-23.04) except for the Prydz Bay and averaged DI in Area IV (10.62)
was more than two times higher than that of minke whale (5.25). Although the MSS of minke whale was higher in Area
IIIE and southern strata in Area IV than northern strata in Area IV, that of humpback whale was relatively stable inevery stratum.
A total of 32 schools / 61 individual blue whales, 109 schools / 446 individual fin whales and 1 school / 2 individual
right whales were primarily sighted. Sightings of blue whales occurred mainly in southern area between 55°E - 70°E.
Most of fin whales were sighted in Area IIIE (Fig. 5).
Sperm whale, killer whale and beaked whales were dominant toothed whales. Killer whales were frequently observed
where sightings of Antarctic minke whales and humpback whales were concentrated. Killer whales were also found at
the bottom of the Prydz Bay where other species were few observed except for Antarctic minke whales (no figure).
Sampling of Antarctic minke whale
Out of 638 schools / 1,494 individual Antarctic minke whales sighted by the SSVs, 473 individuals were targeted forsampling.

A total of 440 individuals was collected (110 from Area IIIE, 330 from Area IV, see Fig. 6). Technical5

sampling efficiency (the rate of sampling for targeted individuals) was 0.93. Out of 33 cases of sampling failure, themost frequent reason was an escape of targeted whale into pack ice (8 cases). Struck and lost also occurred in 3 cases.
Special attention to reduce the time to death was given to all targeted and sampled whales. Explosive harpoons wereused for all targeted whales as the primary killing method. A large caliber rifle was used as the secondary killing
method when required.
Experiments
A sighting distance and angle experiment was performed on 2 January by the SV and SSVs. The results of thisexperiment will be used in calculating abundance estimates.
Table 4a summarizes the results of photo-ID and biopsy sampling. A total of 100 individuals from humpback, blue,
and right whales were photographed and 72 biopsy samples were collected from those whales and fin whales.
Table 4b summarizes the results of the oceanographic and hydro-acoustic surveys. XBT, XCTD and CTD surveys
were conducted at 41, 122 and 54 locations respectively in all research areas. EPCS surveys and hydro-acoustic surveys
were also conducted in the all research areas.
The marine debris survey was carried out concomitant with the sighting survey of the SV in all research areas. A steel
oil drum was confirmed. An Antarctic minke whale with body length of 5.73m taken in Area IIIE was found to beentangled by longline fishing gears in tale flukes. The animal dragged those gears more than 20m long when it wassighted by the SSV. A small rubber piece was found in the stomach of Antarctic minke whales sampled in West-northstratum in Area IV during the biological research.
Satellite tagging experiment was conducted for three Antarctic minke whales and two humpback whales. Althoughtagging was succeeded for two Antarctic minke whales and a humpback whale, we failed to track those whales because
no radio wave was received. The causes of failure are under investigation.
Biological research
Table 5 summarizes data and samples collected. These data and samples will be analyzed for the purposes of JARPA
and some will be used for collaborative studies in various fields such as histology, physiology, embryology,
pharmacology, pathology and reproductive physiology.
Preliminary analyses of biological information
Sex ratio and reproductive status
Table 6 and Fig. 6 show the reproductive status of all samples by each stratum. Because histological examination has
not been done yet, maturity of males was tentatively determined by the testis weight according to Kato (1986), i. e.,males with either testis over than 400g were determined to be mature while others were classified as immature. Maturityof females was determined by existence of corpus luteum or albicans on ovaries.
Mature females were dominant in the East-south stratum (41.6 %) and the West-south stratum (60.2 %) in Area IV,
whereas mature males were dominant in Area IIIE (48.2%) and the West-north stratum (43.2 %) in Area IV. In the
Prydz Bay, both mature males and females were dominant. The ratio of immature animals was relatively high in the
East-north stratum.
Length composition
Table 7 shows mean body length of Antarctic minke whales collected in each stratum.

Maximum length of the sample

was 10.05m for female and 9.39m for male. Minimum length was 4.90m and 4.94m, respectively.

6

Products
All the whales collected were processed on NM after biological sampling was completed according to the provisions ofArticle VIII of the Convention.

A total of 1,926 tons of meat, blubber, viscera, etc. was produced.

DISCUSSION
The most characteristic result of the present survey is a large number of sightings of humpback whales. Total sighting
number of humpback whales marked the largest record in the history of JARPA (see Ishikawa et al. 2002). Fig. 7 shows
yearly change of species composition of sightings and DI of Antarctic minke and humpback whales in Area IV. The
composition ratio and DI of humpback whale have been increasing especially from 1995/96 JARPA, while those of
Antarctic minke whales changed by research years. The DI of humpback whale increased from 0.63 (1989/90 JARPA)
to 10.62 (present survey) during 14 years. Matsuoka et al. (2003) estimated population and annual rate for increase of
humpback whales in Area IV using the latest JARPA sighting data, and showed 29,856 (CV=0.27) and 12.5%(CV=0.58), respectively. The estimated population was 8.7 times higher than that obtained from 1988/89 IWC/IDCR
sighting data (Brown and Butterworth, 1999).

These data therefore confirm an increase of humpback whales.

In the past research cruises, humpback whales had been observed abundantly off the ice edge and observed to be
separated from Antarctic minke whales that were abundant near the ice edge (Ishikawa et al. 1998, 2000,). However,recent observation suggested that distribution of humpback whales expand not only offshore but also near the ice edge.
Humpback whales were observed to be either mingled with or clearly separated from Antarctic minke whales near theice edge (Ishikawa et al. 2002, Ishikawa 2003). Compared to last two researches in Area IV, total sightings of Antarctic
minke whales in this research were relatively small in the southern strata even near the ice edge. They were found to beconcentrated where the ice edge retrieved to coastal area of the Antarctica or small ice free area south of the ice edge
(polynya). It seems that when humpback whales distributed along the ice edge abundantly, Antarctic minke whales
might gather deep inside of the pack ice as much as they could do so as to avoid humpback whales. Such an interspecies competition of two species may result the spatial shift of distribution of Antarctic minke whales and cause
difficulty of sighting survey for them because research vessels are hard to enter the deep inside of the pack ice.
It has been recognized that the Antarctic minke whales declined age at sexual maturity from 12-13 years in the mid
1940s to 7-8 years in the early 1970s because of increase of the carrying capacity of Antarctic krill-feeders due toreductions in the populations of the large baleen whales (Kato and Sakuramoto, 1991). Abundance of humpback whalesin the Antarctic had depleted during past commercial whaling era and they have been protected from 1963 by IWC.
Recent drastic increase of humpback whales may suggest that they have changed reproductive physiology as occurredin Antarctic minke whales after several decades of slow recovery. Therefore it is important to elucidate species
interaction between Antarctic minke whales and humpback whales for the object of JARPA, i.e. elucidation of the roleof whales in the Antarctic ecosystem. For that purpose, it will be necessary to develop new research including such as
improved sighting method for the Antarctic minke whales distributing inside of the pack ice, comparative study offeeding strategy of these two baleen whale species and/ or study of biological parameter of humpback whales.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The project leader was Dr. Seiji Ohsumi and Dr. Hiroshi Hatanaka, former and new director-general of the ICR. We areindebted to Mr. Joji Morishita, the Government of Japan for implementation of the research. We thank researchtechnicians, Messrs. Yasuhiro Murai, Chinori Asahina and Makoto Nakamura, Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd., for theircontribution. Mr. Masaomi Tsunekawa and Kazuki Fukutome, Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd., contributed strategy and7logistics of the sighting and sampling survey. Mr. Akira Hachimine from the Government of Japan, served as onboard
inspector. We are also indebted to all the crew of the research fleet, colleagues of ICR and other related institutions who
participated in the research for their contributions. Financial support for this research was provided by the Governmentof Japan.
REFERENCES
Brown, R. M. and Butterworth, D. S. 1999. Estimates of abundance for Southern Hemisphere humpback and blue
whales from the IWC/IDCR-SOWER sighting survey cruise. Paper SC/51/CAWS35 presented to the IWC
Scientific Committee, May 1999 (unpublished).
Fujise, Y. 1995. A preliminary morphometric study in minke whales from Antarctic Area IV using data from the
1989/90 JARPA survey.

Paper SC/47/SH7 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1995

(unpublished).
Government of Japan 1987a. The program for research on the Southern Hemisphere minke whale and for preliminary
research on the marine ecosystem in the Antarctic".

Paper SC/39/O4 presented to the IWC ScientificCommittee, June 1987 (unpublished). 57pp.
Government of Japan 1987b. The research plan for the feasibility study on "the program for research on the Southern
Hemisphere minke whale and for preliminary research on the marine ecosystem in the Antarctic"

Paper

SC/D87/1 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, December 1987 (unpublished). 36pp.
Government of Japan 1989. The research plan in 1989/90 season in conjunction with note for "the program for the
research on the Southern Hemisphere minke whale and for the preliminary research on the marine ecosystem in
the Antarctic (SC/39/O4)".

Paper SC/41/SHMi13 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1989

(unpublished). 9pp with Annex.
Government of Japan 1995. The 1995/96 research plan for the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special
Permit in the Antarctic. Paper SC/47/SH3 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 1995 (unpublished).
8pp.
Government of Japan 2003. The 2003/2004 research plan for the Japanese whale research program under special
permit in the Antarctic (JARPA). Paper SC/55/O1 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 2003
(unpublished). 6pp.
Ishikawa, H. 2003. Relationship between ice condition and number of sightings of Antarctic minke whales –comparison between 1997/98 and 2001/2002 JARPA surveys in Area IIIE and IV. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 5(Suppl.) 278-282.
Ishikawa, H., Matsuoka, K., Tohyama, D., Yuzu, S., Shimokawa, T., Ohshima, K., Mizushima, Y., Nibe, T., Kido, T.,
Asada, M., Nakamura, M., Ichinomiya, D. and Kinoshita, T. 1998. Cruise report of the Japanese Whale Research
Program under a Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA) Area IV and eastern part of Area III in 1997/98.
Paper SC/50/CAWS8 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, September 1998 (unpublished). 26pp.
Ishikawa, H., Murase, H., Tohyama, D., Yuzu, S., Otani, S., Mogoe, T., Masaki, T., Kimura, N., Ohshima, T., Konagai,T., Asada, M., Takeuchi, J. and Kinoshita, T. 2000. Cruise Report of the Japanese Whale Research Program
under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA) Area IV and Eastern Part of Area III in 1999/2000.

Paper

SC/52/O20 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 2000 (unpublished). 25pp.
Ishikawa H., Otani S., Mogoe, T., Kiwada, H., Tohyama, D., Yoshida, T., Hayashi, T., Nagamine, M., Fukutome, K.,
Koyanagi, T., Fujihira, T., Sasaki, T., Ishihara, T. and Mori, M. 2002.

Cruise Report of the Japanese Whale

Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA) Area IV and Eastern Part of Area III in

8

2001/2002. Paper SC/54/O18 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 2003 (unpublished). 20pp.
Kasamatsu, F., Iwata, S. and Nishiwaki, S. 1991. Development of biopsy skin sampling system for fast swimming
whales in pelagic waters. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn 41. 555-557.
Kato, H. 1986. Year to year changes in biological parameters and population dynamics of southern minke whales.
Doctoral Thesis, Hokkaido University. 145pp.
Kato, H. and Sakuramoto, K. 1991. Age at sexual maturity of southern minke whales: a review and some additional
analyses. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn 41. 331-337.
Matsuoka, K., Hakamada, T., Murase, H. and Nishiwaki, S. 2003. Current distribution, abundance and density trend of
humpback whales in the Antarctic Areas IV and V.

Paper SC/55/SH10 presented to the IWC ScientificCommittee, July 2003 (unpublished).15pp.
Nishiwaki, S., Ishikawa, H., Tohyama, D., Kawasaki, M., Shimamoto, K., Yuzu, S., Tamura, T., Mogoe, T., Hishii, T.,
Yoshida, T., Hidaka, H., Nibe, H., Yamashiro, K., Ono, K. and Taguchi, F. 1996.

Report of the 1995/96

Japanese Whale Research Programme Under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA) in Area IV and eastern partof Area III. Paper SC/48/SH12 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1996 (unpublished). 20pp.
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minke whale from Areas III and IV. Paper SC/48/SH13 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1996
(unpublished). 19pp.

9

Table 1. Searching distances (n. miles) of one sighting vessel (SV) and three sighting/sampling vessels (SSVs) in each stratum.

Stratum
Passing
mode

SV
Closing
mode

Total

SSVs
Sampling Sighting
surveysurveyGrand Total
Total

(NSP)

(ASP)

(NSC)

(ASP)

Area IIIE

2,144.5373.2

2,517.7

3,137.6

240.1

3,377.7

5,895.4

Area IV

3,161.1

1,321.6

4,482.7

8,310.9

598.4

8,909.3

13,392.0

East-North
East-South
West-North
West-South
Prydz Bay

809.8
791.8
587.2
729.3
243.0

329.1
242.9
257.1
257.0
235.5

1,138.9
1,034.7
844.3
986.3
478.5

2,599.6
2,586.2
2,330.4
772.6
22.1

0.0
12.3
61.9
516.3
7.9

2,599.6
2,598.5
2,392.3
1,288.9
30.0

3,738.5
3,633.2
3,236.6
2,275.2
508.5

Grand Total

5,305.6

1,694.8

7,000.4

11,448.5

838.5

12,287.0

19,287.4

Table 2a. Summary of sightings (no. schools / no. individual) conducted by SV and SSVs in Area IV.
SV

Species
Northern Stratum
Antarctic Minke whale
Like Antarctic Minke whale
Minke whale (Dwarf form)
Blue whale
Fin whale
Humpback whale
Unidentified Baleen whales
Sperm whale
Southern bottlenose whale
Mesoplodon spp.
Unidentified Beaked whales
Killer whale
Long-finned pilot whale
Hourglass dolphin
Unidentified whales

West Sector
Primary Secondary
Sch. / Ind. Sch. / Ind.
29 / 332 /2

66 / 122
11 / 18
10 / 10
2 /4

1 /1

3 /5
1 /1
1 /1

8 / 133 /4
1 / 35SSV
East Sector
Primary Secondary
Sch. / Ind. Sch. / Ind.
16 / 28
3 /3

1 /1

1 /1
3 / 1084 / 150
30 / 50
11 / 117 / 1318 / 26
2 /6West Sector
Primary Secondary
Sch. / Ind. Sch. / Ind.
54 / 738 / 14176 / 308
2 /2
23 / 23
20 / 271 /1

1 /1

25 / 33
9 / 454 / 2405 /520 / 35
1 /1
1 /3
1 /2

21 / 21

East Sector
Primary Secondary
Sch. / Ind. Sch. / Ind.
47 / 74
1 /1
2 /2
3 / 19207 / 371
2 /4
4 /4
24 / 35
1 /2
31 / 35
10 / 57
1 / 301 / 1023 / 232 /2

15 / 26

1 / 20Southern Stratum
Antarctic Minke whale
Like Antarctic Minke whale
Blue whale
Fin whale
Right whale
Humpback whale
Unidentified Baleen whales
Sperm whale
Southern bottlenose whale
Unidentified Beaked whales
Killer whale
Unidentified whales

94 / 221
4 /4
2 /3

2 /2

113 / 228
8 / 14
9 /9
2 /2
5 /9
19 / 712 /4

56 / 1393 /3
2 /4
6 / 102 / 2810 / 338

1 /1

31 / 148
2 /2
1 /1

2 /4

191 / 373
20 / 39
12 / 122 /2
8 / 12
12 / 882 /2

4 / 112 /3

247 / 667
2 /2
4 /5
1 /1
1 /2
297 / 581
1 /2
13 / 139 / 25
11 / 29
20 / 360
14 / 1441 / 154

19 / 424 / 4827 / 55

1 /1

1 /3
2 / 7510

25 / 174286 / 508

24 / 52
2 /5
2 /2
1 /2

1 /1

4 / 90Prydz Bay
Antarctic Minke whale
Like Antarctic Minke whale
Humpback whale
Unidentified Baleen whales
Arnoux's beaked whale
Killer whale

102 / 185
4 /421 / 2145 / 9323 / 51
22 / 191
20 / 20

1 / 10Table 2b.

Summary of sightings (no. schools / no. individual) conducted by SV and SSVs in Area IIIE.
SV
Species
Antarctic Minke whale
Like Antarctic Minke whale
Blue whale
Fin whale
Humpback whale
Unidentified Baleen whales
Sperm whale
Southern bottlenose whale
Mesoplodon spp.
Unidentified Beaked whales
Killer whale
Unidentified whales

SSV

PrimarySch. / Ind.

SecondarySch. / Ind.

Primary
SecondarySch. / Ind. Sch. / Ind.

228 / 1,187
15 / 1720 / 43
53 / 300
141 / 261
63 / 181
43 / 447 / 1412 / 23

161 / 440
1 /1
4 /8
41 / 102
127 / 228
16 / 27
76 / 76
36 / 59
2 /3
50 / 79
7 / 4519 / 19

6 / 53
2 /4
1 /1
4 /5

29 / 51
4 / 683 /3

10 / 211 / 153 /4
10 / 42
15 / 26
5 / 119 /9

4 /7

Table 3. Density indices (DI) and mean school size (MSS) of Antarctic minke whale and humpback whale primarysightings by SV and SSVs. *As SSVs searched only 30.0n.miles in the Prydz Bay in total (see Table 1), thesevalue do not represent the whole stratum.

Antarctic minke whale
SV

SSV

Humpback whale

Combined

SV

SSV

Combined

Stratum

DI

MSS

DI

MSS

DI

MSS

DI

MSS

DI

MSS

DI

MSS

Area III-E

9.06

5.21

4.77

2.73

6.60

4.18

5.60

1.85

3.76

1.80

4.55

1.82

Area IV

5.04

2.52

5.35

2.21

5.25

2.31

10.17

1.92

10.84

1.83

10.62

1.86

East-North

1.40

1.75

1.81

1.57

1.69

1.62

7.38

1.79

7.96

1.79

7.78

1.79

East-South

3.00

4.77

3.93

1.81

3.66

2.50

18.46

1.95

11.01

1.78

13.13

1.85

West-North

3.43

1.14

2.26

1.35

2.56

1.28

7.82

1.85

7.36

1.75

7.48

1.78

West-South

9.53

2.35

19.16

2.70

14.99

2.60

11.46

2.02

23.04

1.96

18.02

1.97

Prydz Bay

11.70

2.48

90.00*

2.04

16.32

2.34

0.42

2.00

0*

-

0.39

2.00

Combined

6.49

3.87

5.19

2.34

5.66

2.98

8.53

1.91

8.90

1.83

8.76

1.85

11

Table 4a. Summary of photo-ID and biopsy sampling. B, F, HP, R represent blue, fin, humpback and right whales
respectively.

Stratum

SV & SSV Combined
Photo-ID

Biopsynumber ofindividuals

number ofsamples

B

HP

R

B

F

HP

R

Area IIIE

9

39

0

2

4

26

0

Area IV

4

46

2

2

0

36

2

East-North

5

4

East-South

15

10

West-North

16

13

West-South

4

10

2

2

13

85

2

4

9

2

62

2

Prydz Bay

Grand Total

4

Table 4b. Summary of oceanographic and hydro-acoustic surveys.

Stratum

CTD

XCTD

XCTD

EPCS

number ofstations

number ofstations

number ofstations

running days

Scientific
Echosounder

KS2

KS2

KS2

KS2

YS2

logging days
KS2

Area III-E

20

2

16

26

27

24

Area IV

34

120

25

65

66

57

East-North

12

23

14

13

13

East-South

5

13

14

18

12

West-North

11

24

14

16

13

West-South

4

26

18

17

15

Prydz Bay

2

34

5

2

4

Grand Total

54

122

91

93

81

21
4

41

12

Table 5. Summary of biological data and samples collected.
Samples and data
-DataPhotographic record of external character
Body length and sex identification
Measurement of external body proportion
Body weight
Body weight by total weight of parts
Skull measurement (length and breadth)
Craniometric study
Standard measurement of blubber thickness (five points)
Detailed measurement of blubber thickness (fourteen points)
Mammary gland; lactation status and measurement
Breadth measurement of uterine horn
Testis and epididymis weight
Weight of stomach content in each compartment
Photographic record of fetus
Fetal length and weight
External measurements of fetus
Number of ribs
-SampleDiatom film record and samplingSerum sample for physiological study
Earplug for age determination
Tympanic bone for age determination
Largest baleen plate for age determination
Largest baleen plate for morphological study
Vertebral epiphyses sample
Ovary
Histological sample of endometrium
Histological sample of mammary gland
Milk sample for chemical analysis
Histological sample of testis
Histological sample of epididymis
Testis and epididymis stamp smear for sperm detection
Skin, blubber, muscle, liver, kidney and heart tissues for genetic study
Muscle, liver and kidney tissues for heavy metal analysis
Blubber and liver tissues for organochlorine analysis
Muscle, liver and blubber tissues for lipid analysis
Stomach contents for food and feeding study
Stomach contents for heavy metal analysis
Stomach contents for organochlorine analysis
Stomach contents for lipid analysis
External parasites
Internal parasites
Fetus
Skin, blubber, muscle, liver, kidney and heart tissues of fetus for genetic study
Oocyte for in-vitro fertilization (IVF)
Oviductal fluids for in-vitro culture (IVC)
Spermatogenic cell for round spermatid injection (ROSI)
Adult vertebra, rib, sternum, humerus, spleen and liver for histological study
Fetal vertebra, rib, sternum, humerus, spleen and liver for histological study
Fetal pectoral fin for molecular biological study
Fetal kidney and liver for molecular biological study
Adult heart for anatomical study
Fetal heart for anatomical study
Fetal upper part of the body for anatomical study
Skeleton for educational exhibition
Skull for educational exhibition
Baleen plate for educational exhibition* : including a fetus of sex unidentified.
** : External measurement of a fetus was partly done when it was broken by harpoon.

13

Male

Number of whales
Female

Total

200
200
200
200
29
197
1
171
29
200
200
78
78
78**
200

240
240
240
240
38
239
1
202
38
240
240
239
56
56
56
240

440
440
440
440
67
436
2
373
67
240
240
200
439
155*
155*
134
440

200
200
200
66
197
197
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
29
47
8
11
10
38
5
0

239
240
240
62
238
238
240
240
240
240
4
240
240
240
38
66
14
6
13
54
15
0

439
440
440
128
435
435
440
240
240
240
4
200
200
200
440
440
440
67
113
22
17
23
92
20
17*

68
13

51
168
13
-

119
168
13
13

4
16
2
1
1
2
3
2
3

0
5
3
1
1
0
0
0
0
0

4
21
5
2
2
2
3
2
3
0

Table 6. Reproductive status of Antarctic minke whales collected. Numbers in parenthesis represent ratio of samples
in each stratum (%). Maturity of males was tentatively defined by testis weight according to Kato (1986).
"Resting" represents non-pregnant mature female without corpus luteum, "Preg+Lac" represents pregnant
and lactating female and "Ovulating" represents female that had corpus luteum but fetus was not observed.
FemaleMatureImmaturePregnant Resting Preg.+Lac Ovulating Lactating

Male
Stratum

Immature Mature

Total

Total

Area IIIE
First-period

9
(8.2)

53
(48.2)

62(56.4)

21(19.1)

22(20.0)

2
(1.8)

3
(2.7)

0
(0.0)

0
(0.0)

48
(43.6)

13(30.2)
12(15.6)
6(13.6)
14
(9.9)
1
(4.0)
46
(13.9)
55(12.5)

14(32.6)
19(24.7)
19(43.2)
27(19.1)
13(52.0)
92(27.9)
145(33.0)

27(62.8)
31(40.3)
25(56.8)
41(29.1)
14(56.0)
138(41.8)
200(45.5)

12(27.9)
14(18.2)
8(18.2)
15(10.6)
1(4.0)
50(15.2)
71(16.1)

2(4.7)
27(35.1)
8(18.2)
77(54.6)
10(40.0)
124(37.6)
146(33.2)

0
(0.0)
4
(5.2)
2
(4.5)
3
(2.1)
0
(0.0)
9
(2.7)
11
(2.5)

1
(2.3)
1
(1.3)
1
(2.3)
3
(2.1)
0
(0.0)
6
(1.8)
9
(2.0)

1
(2.3)
0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
1
(0.3)
1
(0.2)

0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
0
(0.0)
2
(1.4)
0
(0.0)
2
(0.6)
2
(0.5)

16
(37.2)
46(59.7)
19(43.2)
100(70.9)
11(44.0)
192(58.2)
240(54.5)

Area IV
East-North
East-South
West-North
West-South
Prydz Bay
Combined
Grand total

Table 7. Mean body length (m) with standard deviation and body length range of Antarctic minke whales collected ineach stratum.

Stratum

Maturity of males was defined as Table 6.

Immature

Male
Mature

Total

Immature

FemaleMatureTotal

Area IIIE
First-period

6.27 ± 0.65 8.33 ± 0.36 8.03 ± 0.83
(5.14 - 7.19) (7.64 - 9.03) (5.14 - 9.03)

7.29 ± 0.81 9.04 ± 0.45 8.28 ± 1.08
(5.38 - 8.42)(8.14 - 10.05)(5.38 - 10.05)

6.23 ± 0.99 8.41 ± 0.52 7.36 ± 1.35
(4.94 - 7.81) (7.71 - 9.39) (4.94 - 9.39)
5.99 ± 0.74 8.33 ± 0.38 7.43 ± 1.28
(5.08 - 7.51) (7.63 - 8.93) (5.08 - 8.93)
6.49 ± 1.41 8.49 ± 0.33 8.01 ± 1.12
(5.31 - 8.82) (7.86 - 9.29) (5.31 - 9.29)
6.23 ± 0.83 8.39 ± 0.32 7.65 ± 1.17
(5.31 - 7.85) (7.39 - 8.98) (5.31 - 8.98)
7.51
8.53 ± 0.37 8.46 ± 0.45
(7.85 - 9.16) (7.51 - 9.16)
6.23 ± 0.94 8.42 ± 0.38 7.69 ± 1.21
(4.94 - 8.82) (7.39 - 9.39) (4.94 - 9.39)
6.24 ± 0.89 8.39 ± 0.37 7.80 ± 1.11
(4.94 - 8.82) (7.39 - 9.39) (4.94 - 9.39)

6.53 ± 1.25 9.10 ± 0.37 7.17 ± 1.58
(5.11 - 9.02) (8.58 - 9.38) (5.11 - 9.38)
6.32 ± 1.13 8.98 ± 0.45 8.17 ± 1.43
(5.13 - 8.36) (7.34 - 9.60) (5.13 - 9.60)
6.13 ± 1.12 8.90 ± 0.38 7.73 ± 1.59
(4.90 - 8.40) (8.31 - 9.48) (4.90 - 9.48)
7.11 ± 0.81 9.01 ± 0.40 8.72 ± 0.83
(5.79 - 8.30) (8.05 - 9.97) (5.79 - 9.97)
7.26
9.13 ± 0.33 8.96 ± 0.64
(8.64 - 9.74) (7.26 - 9.74)
6.60 ± 1.10 9.00 ± 0.40 8.38 ± 1.25
(4.90 - 9.02) (7.34 - 9.97) (4.90 - 9.97)
6.80 ± 1.06 9.01 ± 0.41 8.36 ± 1.21
(4.90 - 9.02)(7.34 - 10.05)(4.90 - 10.05)

Area IV
East-North
East-South
West-North
West-South
Prydz Bay
Combined
Grand total

14

Australia

30S

Low and middle latitudinalSighting survey

40S

Kerguelen Island

50S

Eastern part ofArea III

60S

Area IV
West-North

East-North

West-South

East-South

Prydz BayANTARCTICA

70S

40E

50E

60E

70E

80E

90E

100E

110E

120E

130E

Fig. 1. Geographic location of research area of the 2003/2004 JARPA surveys and cruise tracks of sighting survey
between research area and Japan.

Area III

60S

70S

40E

50E

60E

70E

Area IV

60S

SV

ANTARCTICA

70S
70E

80E

90E

SSV

100E

110E

120E

130E

Fig. 2. Cruise track line of sighting vessel (SV, broken line) and sighting/ sampling vessels (SSVs, solid line) in
2003/2004 JARPA. Pack ice lines (bold and solid line) are estimated by observation of research vessels and theinformation from SSM / I.

15

Area III

60S

70S

40E

50E

60E

70E

Area IV

60S

School size
1

ANTARCTICA

70S
70E

2
≧3

80E

90E

100E

110E

120E

130E

Fig. 3. Distribution of sightings of Antarctic minke whales sighted by SV and SSVs in 2003/2004 JARPA.

Area III

60S

70S

40E

50E

60E

70E

Area IV

60S

School size
1

ANTARCTICA

70S
70E

2
≧3

80E

90E

100E

110E

120E

130E

Fig. 4. Distribution of sightings of humpback whales sighted by SV and SSVs in 2003/2004 JARPA.

16

Area III
60S

70S

40E

50E

60E

70E

Area IV

60S

School size
Blue whale
Fin whale
Right whale

ANTARCTICA

70S
70E

80E

90E

100E

1
2
≧3

110E

120E

130E

Fig. 5. Distribution of sightings of blue, fin and right whales sighted by SV and SSVs in 2003/2004 JARPA.

Area III

60S

70S

40E

50E

60E

70E

Area IV

60S

M atu r e m al e
Im m at u re m ale
M atu r e fe m al e
Im m at u re f e male

ANTARCTICA

70S
70E

80E

90E

100E

110E

120E

130E

Fig. 6. Sighted position of sampled Antarctic minke whales by sex and reproductive status in 2003/2004 JARPA.

17

100%

12.0

90%

11.0
10.0

80%
9.0
70%
7.0

50%

6.0

40%

5.0

DI

Proportion

8.0
60%

4.0
30%
3.0
20%
2.0
10%

1.0

0%

0.0
89/90

91/92

93/94

95/96

97/98

99/00

01/02

03/04

Survey season
Antarctic Minke

Humpback

Sperm

Ziphiidae

Others

Mi-DI

Hp-DI

Fig. 7. Yearly change of species composition of sightings and DI of Antarctic minke and humpback whales in Area IV.

18