SC/F16/JR2

Methodology and procedure of the dedicated sighting
surveys in JARPNII (2008-2013) - Offshore component KOJI MATSUOKA1, TAKASHI HAKAMADA1 AND TOMIO MIYASHITA2
1

Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5, Toyomi, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan
National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Fisheries Research Agency, 2-12-4, Fukuura, Kanazawa,
Yokohama, 236-8648, Japan
Contact e-mail:matsuoka@cetacean.jp
2

ABSTRACTThe survey procedures used by dedicated sighting vessels (SV) of JARPNII "offshore" component aredescribed. The main objective of these surveys was to examine the distribution and estimate theabundance of mainly common minke, sei and Bryde’s whales for purposes of elucidating feeding
ecology and ecosystem, management and conservation. The survey periods and research areas wereset based on the target species for each year. The survey procedures were consistent during 2008 to
2013. The survey plans were submitted to the IWC Scientific Committee (SC) every year since 2010
and were endorsed as the IWC oversite surveys, based on the recommendations from the SC members.
Following the IWC guidelines, the results of each survey were reported to the SC and all sighting data
(weather, effort, sighting and distance & angle estimation experiment records) were submitted to the
IWC secretariat every year. Analyses of these sighting surveys data are described in the documents on
the distribution and abundance of whales for this meeting.
INTRODUCTION
At the 2002 SC meeting, Japan presented the results of feasibility studies of the Second phase of the Japanese
Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Western North Pacific (JARPNII) which was conducted in2000 and 2001 (Government of Japan, 2002a). Japan also announced a new research plan for the full-scale
JARPNII at the 2002 SC meeting and began the program in 2002 in compliance with Article VIII of theInternational Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. The objectives of the full-scale JARPNII are: i) tocollect data on feeding ecology and ecosystem studies, including cetacean prey consumption and preferences, tobuild ecosystem models, ii) to monitor environmental pollutants in cetaceans and the marine ecosystem, and iii)
to elucidate the stock structure of whales (Government of Japan, 2002b).
The dedicated sighting surveys were conducted independently from the whale sampling research activity andthe sighting data are used for abundance estimates. Based on the collected data the distribution patterns of large
whales such as blue, fin, sei, Bryde’s, common minke, humpback, 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;2009). These data were analyzed and results of abundance estimates and distribution information were submitted
to this meeting (Hakamada et al, 2016: SC/F11/JR11, Hakamada and Matsuoka, 2016a: SC/F16/JR12, 2016b
SC/F16/JR13 and 2016c SC/F16/JR14, Murase et al 2014: SC/F16/JR8 and 2016: SC/F16/JR7, Sasaki et al.,2013: SC/F16/JR10, Matsuoka et al., 2016: SC/F16/JR9, Pastene et al., 2016: SC/F16/JR50).
This paper describes the dedicated sighting survey procedure of the JARPNII offshore component between
2008 and 2013. Methodologies of whole JARPNII surveys are described in Tamura et al., (2016): SC/F16/JR1
and Bando et al. (2016): SC/F16/JR4 for the offshore component.

SIGHTING SURVEY METHODOLOGYJARPNII has been conducted with the consistent research methods. Tables 1 and 2 shows an outline of JARPNII
dedicated sighting surveys from 2008 to 2014. The survey periods were set in summer during May to September.
Research area
The research area for the offshore survey component was mainly sub-areas 7, 8 and 9 (for common minke
whales). These areas were further stratified into blocks based on oceanographic information (particularly of
Kuroshio and Oyashio effects) (Figure 1). Sub-area 7 was divided into the four small blocks (7CN, 7CS, 7W and7E) were stratified based on the satellite water temperature information. Sub-areas 8 and 9 were not stratified(IWC, 2014).

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Research Vessels
There were five research vessels used for dedicated sighting survey from 2008 to 2013 JARPNII. Among them,one or two vessels were operated in each season in the offshore components. The Kyoshin-Maru No.2 (KS2:372GT), Kaiko-Maru (KK1: 860.25 GT), Yushin-Maru (YS1: 724GT), Yushin-Maru No.2 (YS2: 747GT) andYushin-Maru No.3 (YS3: 742GT) have been used. They are equipped with a top barrel platform (TOP) and upper
bridge (Table 2 and Figures 3a to 3c). The ICR research data collecting system is set on each vessel.
Specifications of the vessels are shown in Table 2. These vessels also conducted the distance and angle
estimation experiments, photo-ID and biopsy experiments.
Design of track lines
The survey blocks and pre-determined track lines are shown in Table 1 and Figures 2a to 2e. The Longitudinal
start point of the track lines are decided at random using the “Distance program (ver.6.0) ” and the number of theline (width in the longitude) is decided by the research schedule based on the IWC survey guideline (IWC, 2005).
These lines were established independently from those for whale sampling surveys.
Primary searching activity
Sighting surveys follow the protocol endorsed for the IWC/SOWER cruise (IWC, 2008). There are two primaryobservers in the both the top barrel platform (TOP) and the upper bridge (Captain and Helmsman), respectively.
On the TOP, two observers conduct searching for cetaceans by using scaled binoculars (7x). On the upper bridge,
two primary observers also search for cetaceans and record sighting information. The surveys were conducted
for 12 hours per day from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m (local time). Basically when the weather conditions weresuitable for observations: visibility better than 2.0 n.miles, and the wind speed less than 21 knots. The vessel
speed was planned to be 11.5 knots with slight adjustment to avoid vibration of the vessels. The sighting surveys
were conducted under the passing mode (NSP mode; even if sighting was made on the predetermined track line,
the vessel did not approach the whale directly and searching from the top barrel was uninterrupted). Closing was
performed mainly on sightings of baleen whales in order to confirm species, school size, and to conduct
experiments if they were blue, humpback, right or fin whales. Sightings of whales were classified as primary andsecondary sightings. The primary sightings were those seen in normal searching mode (on-effort), i.e. NSP (twoprimary observers searched from the top barrel of the vessel on the predetermined track-line). The secondarysightings were those seen during off-effort (e.g. during confirming whales, no observer in the top barrel or thevessel engages in other work) or off the research time. Researchers on board recorded all sighting information.
The sighting record includes date and time of the sighting, position of the vessel, classification of the survey
mode and the sightings (primary or secondary), angle and distance from the vessel, species and school size,
estimated body length, etc.
Experiments
Distance and angle measurement training was conducted at the first stage of the survey every year. The
experiment to evaluate measurement error was conducted around the last stage of the survey following theprotocol for the IWC/SOWER cruise (IWC, 2008). When large cetaceans such as blue, North Pacific right andhumpback whales are found, photographs were taken for photo-identification. Biopsy skin sampling of blue, fin,sei, Bryde’s, common minke, humpback, North Pacific right and sperm whales were collected (with effort data
including weather data) for investigating stock structure.
Data entry and analysis
The researchers inputted data collected (weather, effort, sighting and from experiments data) to the computer onboard during the survey as was the case for previous IWC-SOWER and POWER cruises. These data were stored
at the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) and submitted to the IWC secretariat based on the IWC/SC
Guidelines (IWC, 2005). Scientists at the ICR analyzed these data using the methods developed and modified byHakamada et al., (2009a and 2009b), Matsuoka et al., (2011) and by Okamura et al. (2004).
SUMMARY OF EACH SIGHTING SURVEY
Details are described in each cruise report of JARPNII during 2008 to 2013 (see References, Tables 1 and 2).
2008 survey (Figure 2a)
Apart from the sampling activities, an independent track line for dedicated sighting survey was conducted by the
Kyoshin-Maru No.2 between 1 July and 29 August, and by the Kaiko-Maru between 27 July and 31 August. The
total searching distance was 5,147.1n.miles. A total of 11 schools (11 individuals) of common minke, sei(71/139), Bryde’s (193/292), sperm (134/294), blue (18/23), fin (51/75), humpback (10/10) and right whale (5/6)
were sighted in the sub-areas 7, 8 and 9 (Tamura et al., 2009).

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2009 survey (Figure 2b)
Apart from the sampling activities, an independent track line for dedicated sighting survey was conducted by the
Yushin-Maru in sub-areas 8 and 9 between 24 May and 19 June. The total searching distance was 2,617 n.miles.
A total of 9 schools (11 individuals) of common minke, sei whale (52 schools / 96 individuals), Bryde’s (6/6),
sperm (37/120), fin (4/6) and humpback (2/2) whales were sighted in the sub-areas 8 and 9. No photo-ID was
conducted and 2 biopsy samples from sei whales were collected (Bando et al., 2010) and by the Kaiko-Maru in
sub-areas 8 and 9 between 23 May and 23 June. A total of 2 schools (2 individuals) of common minke, sei whale(15 schools / 24 individuals), Blue (1/1), Bryde’s (40/55), sperm (37/120), fin (2/3), humpback (17/26) andsperm (55/119) whales were sighted in the sub-areas 8 and 9 (Miyashita et al., 2010).
2010 survey (Figures 2b and 2c)
The systematic vessel sighting survey was conducted in 2010 summer to examine the distribution of sei and
Bryde’s whales and for abundance estimations in the Western and Central North Pacific. The plan was endorsedby the IWC/SC. The first cruise was conducted in the area of 35oN-40oN and 157oE-170oW from 9 June to 18
July, and the second cruise was in the area of 32oN-37oN and 145oE-180o E (dateline) from 20 July to 17 August.
The main target species was sei whale for the first cruise and Bryde’s whale for the second cruise. The research
vessel Yushin-maru No.3 was engaged for this survey. Distance and angle estimation experiment was conducted
for abundance estimation. Concentration areas of sei, Bryde’s and blue whales in the first cruise and Bryde’s
whale in the second cruise were observed. Biopsy skin samples were successfully collected from sei (7) and
Bryde’s (6) whales for assessing stock structure. 17 schools of blue whales were photographed (Matsuoka etal.,2011).
2011 survey (Figure 2c)
The plan was endorsed by the IWC/SC. The research area for ‘Survey 1’ was set between 43o N and 51o N andbetween 157o E and 170o E. ‘Survey 2’ was set between 35o N and 43o N and between 157o E and 170o E.
‘Survey 3’ was set between 35o N and 45o N, and between 150o E and 157oE. Surveys 1 and 2 were conducted
between 5 and 31 May and Survey 3 between 17 and 31 May. The research vessels Yushin-Maru (Survey 1),
Yushin-Maru No.2 (Survey 2) and Yushin-Maru No.3 (Survey 3) were engaged in these surveys. A total of all
searching distance on the track line was 4,060.3 n.miles in the Passing mode in the whole research area. Blue
whales were mainly sighted in Survey 3 around 38oN. Fin, humpback and North Pacific right whales weremainly sighted in Surveys 1 and 3. Sei whales were mainly sighted in Surveys 1 and 2. Common minke whales
were sighted in Surveys 1 and 3. Sperm whales were widely sighted in the whole research area. In total, eightspecies including seven baleen whale species (blue (4 schools / 4 individuals), fin (23/31), sei (32/51), Bryde’s(3/6), common minke (3/3), humpback (27/35) and North Pacific right whales (13/20) and one toothed whale
species (sperm whale (60/116)) were sighted during the Surveys. Few encounters of common minke whales may
be attributed to insufficient allocation of searching effort in the coastal waters. Such a small number of sightings
appear not to be suitable for estimating abundance of this species. Concentration areas of sei whales in Survey 2,
humpback whales in Surveys 1 and 3 and North Pacific right whales in Survey 1 were observed.. Photographs
for photo-ID were successfully taken from blue (3 individuals), humpback (5) and North Pacific right (19)whales. Biopsy skin samples were also successfully collected from blue (2), fin (2), humpback (2) and North
Pacific right (14) whales (Matsuoka et al., 2012).
2012 survey (Figure 2d)
The main objective was to examine the distribution and estimate the abundance of common minke and Bryde’s
whales for the management and conservation purposes. The plan was endorsed by the IWC/SC. The first survey
for common minke whales was conducted using the Yushin-Maru No.3 between 17 May and 30 June in the area
comprised between 35oN-44oN and 140oE-150oE. The second survey for Bryde’s whale was conducted by the
Yushin-Maru and Yushin-Maru No.2 between 20 August and 3 October in the area comprised between
30oN-40oN and 130oE-170oE. An additional survey (third survey) for common minke whales was conducted by
the Yushin-Maru No.3 between 14 September and 1 October in the area between 41oN-44oN and 141oE-150oE.
For the objective of abundance estimation routine distance and angle estimation experiments were conducted(Matsuoka et al., 2013).
2013 survey (Figure 2e)
The research area was set between 35o N and 44o N and between 140o E and 157o E (sub-areas 7W, 7E and 8 forcommon minke whale). The survey was conducted between 18 May and 26 June. The research vessels
Yushin-Maru and Yushin-Maru No.2 were engaged in this survey. A total of 3,470.1 n.miles was searched in thissurvey. Successful coverage of the searching efforts of each sub-area was 74% for sub-area 7W&7E and 73% for
sub-area 8, respectively. In total, eight species including seven baleen whales, blue (2 school / 2 individual), fin(26/35), sei (33/56), Bryde’s (39/55), common minke (7/7), North Pacific right (1/1) and humpback (66/88)-3-

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whales and sperm whale (75/225) were sighted during the survey. Concentration areas of sei, Bryde’s andhumpback whales were observed. Photographs for photo-ID were successfully taken from blue (2 individuals),
North Pacific right (1) and humpback (22) whales. Biopsy skin samples were also successfully collected fromblue (1) and humpback (6) whales including a mother and calf pair of humpback whale (Matsuoka et al., 2014).
REPORT F THE IWC OVERSIGHT AND DATA SUBMISSION TO THE IWC
All equipment and the survey method were the consistent between 2008 and 2013 surveys. Detailed reports of
the IWC oversight were submitted to the IWC/SC every year since 2010. The design of the survey blocks andtrack lines was improved to cover each survey block based on the IWC guidelines. The planned sighting
procedure were in accordance with the guidelines agreed by the SC (IWC, 2005). Objectives and procedure of
the survey were explained to the captains, officers, crew and researchers in advance. Each sighting data weresent to the IWC secretary and confirmed at each IWC/SC meeting (e.g. IWC, 2013).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are greatly indebted to Drs. Yoshihiro Fujise, and Tsutomu Tamura for their help in the preparationof this paper. We also thank all Captains, officers and crew of the research vessels and the staff of the Institute of
Cetacean Research, Kyodo-Senpaku Co. Ltd. and Kaiko-Senpaku K.K.
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Bando, T., Yasunaga, G., Tamura, T., Matsuoka, K., Murase, H., Kishiro, T. and Miyashita, T. 2016. Methodology
and survey procedure under the JARPNII - offshore component- during 2008 to 2014 with special emphasison whale sampling procedures. Paper SC/F16/JR4 presented to the JARPNII special permit expert panel
review workshop, Tokyo, February 2016 (unpublished) .**pp.
Government of Japan. 2002a. Report of the 2000 and 2001 feasibility study of the Japanese whale research
program under special permit in the western North Pacific-phase II (JARPNII). Paper SC/54/O17 presented
to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 2002 (unpublished). 202pp.
Government of Japan. 2002b. Research Plan for Cetacean Studies in the Western North Pacific under Special
Permit (JARPNII) Paper SC/54/O2 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 2002 (unpublished).
115pp.
Hakamada, T., Matsuoka, K. and Miyashita, T. 2009b. Distribution and the number of western North Pacificcommon minke, Bryde’s, sei and sperm whales distributed in JARPNII Offshore component survey area.
Paper SC/J09/JR15 presented to the JARPNII Review Workshop, Tokyo, January 2009 (unpublished).
18pp.
Hakamada, T. Matsuoka, K., Kishiro, T. and Miyashita, T., 2016. The number of western North Pacific common
minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) distributed in JARPNII coastal survey areas. Paper SC/F16/JR11
presented to the JARPNII special permit expert panel review workshop, Tokyo, February 2016
(unpublished) .**pp.
Hakamada, T. and Matsuoka, K., 2016a. The number of western North Pacific common minke, Bryde’s and sei
whales distributed in JARPNII offshore component survey area. Paper SC/F16/JR12 presented to the
JARPNII special permit expert panel review workshop, Tokyo, February 2016 (unpublished) .**pp.
Hakamada, T. and Matsuoka, K., 2016b. The number of blue, fin, humpback, North Pacific right whales in thewestern North Pacific in the JARPNII offshore survey area. Paper SC/F16/JR13 presented to the JARPNII
special permit expert panel review workshop, Tokyo, February 2016 (unpublished) .**pp.
Hakamada, T. and Matsuoka, K., 2016c. The number of sperm whales in the western North Pacific in the
JARPNII offshore survey area. Paper SC/F16/JR14 presented to the JARPNII special permit expert panel
review workshop, Tokyo, February 2016 (unpublished) .**pp.
International Whaling Commission, 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(SUPPL.), 2001.
International Whaling Commission. 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 and Analysing Data within the Revised Management Scheme. J. Cetacean Res. Manage.

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International Whaling Commission, 2008. IWC SOWER Cruise 2008/09, Information for Researchers.
http://iwcoffice.org/_documents/sci_com/SOWER/Guide%20%20for%20Researchers%202008-09.pdf[Paper available at the IWC Office].
International Whaling Commission, 2009. The Report of the Expert Workshop to review the ongoing JARPNII
Programme. SC/61/Rep1 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 2009 (unpublished). 57pp. [Paper
available at the IWC Office].
International Whaling Commission 2013. Report of the Scientific Committee. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 14(Suppl.): 195-213.
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Matsuoka, K., Yoshimura, I., Nishiwaki, S. and Miyashita, T., 2011. Cruise report of the 2010 cetacean sighting
survey by the RV Yushin-Maru No. 3 in the North Pacific. Paper SC/63/O6 presented to the IWC ScientificCommittee, June 2011 (unpublished). 9pp.
Matsuoka, K., Tsunekawa, M., Nishiwaki, S. and Miyashita, T., 2012. Cruise report of the Japanese cetaceansighting survey in the western North Pacific in 2011. Paper SC/64/O6 presented to the IWC ScientificCommittee, May 2012 (unpublished).9pp.
Matsuoka, K., Yoshimura, I. and Miyashita, T., 2013. Cruise report of the Japanese cetacean sighting survey inthe western North Pacific in 2012. Paper SC/65a/O4 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 2013
(unpublished).11pp.
Matsuoka, K., Konagai, T., Takamatsu, T. and Miyashita, T., 2014. Cruise report of the Japanese cetaceansighting survey in the western North Pacific in 2013. Paper SC/65b/IA6 presented to the IWC ScientificCommittee, May 2014 (unpublished).8pp.
Matsuoka, K., Hakamada, T., Kiwada, H., Murase H. and Nishiwaki, S., 2011. Abundance estimates and trends
for humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Antarctic Areas IV and V based on JARPA sighting data.
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Matsuoka, K., Hakamada, T. and Miyashita, T., 2016. Distribution of blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin (B.
physalus), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) and north Pacific right (Eubalaena japonica) whales in thewestern North Pacific based on JARPN and JARPNII surveys (1994 to 2014). Paper SC/F16/JR9 presented
to the JARPNII special permit expert panel review workshop, Tokyo, February 2016 (unpublished) .**pp.
Miyashita, T., Pastene, L.A. and Kato, H. 2010. Japan. Progress report on cetacean research, April 2009 to March
2010, with statistical data for the calendar year 2009 or the season 2009/10. Paper SC/62/ProgRepJapan
presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 2010 (unpublished).
Murase, H., Hakamada, T., Matsuoka, K., Nishiwaki, S., Inagake, D., Okazaki, M., Toji, N. and Kitakado, T.,2014. Distribution of sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis) in the subarctic-sub-tropical transition area of thewestern North Pacific in relation to oceanic fronts. Deep-Sea Research II 107: 22-8. Paper SC/F16/JR8.
Murase, H., Hakamada, T., Sasaki, H., Matsuoka, K. and Kitakado, T., 2016. Seasonal spatial distributions ofcommon minke, sei and Bryde’s whales in the JARPNII survey area from 2002 to 2013. Paper SC/F16/JR7
presented to the JARPNII special permit expert panel review workshop, Tokyo, February 2016
(unpublished) .**pp.
Okamura, H. and Kitakado, T. 2004. Advance in an abundance estimation model of Antarctic minke whales.
SC/56/IA9 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 2004 (unpublished). 12pp. [Paper available atthe IWC Office].
Pastene, L.A., Goto, M., Taguchi, M., Nishiwaki, S. and Kitakado, T. 2016. A note on the genetic diversity andphylogeny of western North Pacific and southern right whales based on mitochondrial and microsatellite
DNA. SC/F16/JR50 presented to the JARPNII special permit expert panel review workshop, Tokyo,
February 2016 (unpublished) .**pp.
Sasaki, H., Murase, H., Kiwada, H., Matsuoka, K., Mitani, Y. and Saitoh, S., 2013. Habitat differentiation
between sei (Balaenoptera borealis) and Bryde’s whales (B. brydei) in the western North Pacific. Fish.
Oceanogr. 22 (6): 496-508, 2013. Paper SC/F16/JR10.
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. 2009. Cruise Report of the second phase of the Japanese
Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Western North Pacific (JARPNII) in 2008 (part I) Offshore component –. Paper SC/61/O4 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, May 2009
(unpublished). 49pp.
Tamura, T., Kishiro, T., Pastene, L. et al., 2016. The Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in
the western North Pacific Phase-II (JARPNII): results and conclusions in the context of the three main
objectives, and scientific considerations for future research. SC/F16/JR1 presented to the JARPNII special
permit expert panel review workshop, Tokyo, February 2016 (unpublished) .**pp.

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Table 1. Summary of JARPNII dedicated sighting surveys – Offshore component (2008-2013).
Year

2008

2009

Cruise period

Research area period

Research area

Vessel2008/8/29

Sub-area 8, 9

Kaiko-Maru

2008/7/6

2008/8/28

Sub-area 8, 9

Kyoshin-Maru
No.2

2009/6/25

2009/5/23

2009/6/23

Sub-area 8, 9

Yushin-Maru

2009/6/25

2009/5/24

2009/6/19

Sub-area 8, 9

Kaiko-Maru

2010/6/9

2010/7/18

2010/6/11

2010/7/17

35N-40N,
157E-170W

Yushin-Maru No.3

SC/62/O16,
SC/63/O6

2010/7/20

2010/8/17

2010/7/20

2010/8/16

32N-37N,
145E-180E

Yushin-Maru No.3

SC/62/O16,
SC/63/O6

2011/4/28

2011/6/6

2011/5/5

2011/5/31

Sub-area 9N

Yushin-Maru

2011/4/28

2011/6/6

2011/5/5

2011/5/31

Sub-area 9S

Yushin-Maru No.2

2011/5/13

2011/6/6

2011/5/17

2011/5/31

Sub-area 8

Yushin-Maru No.3

2012/5/17

2012/6/30

2012/5/18

2012/6/29

Sub-area 7

Yushin-Maru No.3

30N-40N,
140E-170E

Yushin-Maru,
Yushin-Maru No.2

Sub-area 7
35N-44N,
140E-157E
35N-44N,
140E-157E

Yushin-Maru No.3

Start

End

Start

End

2008/7/2

2008/8/31

2008/7/5

2008/7/2

2008/8/31

2009/5/22
2009/5/22

2010

2011

2012

2013

2012/8/20

2012/10/3

2012/8/23

2012/9/24

2012/9/14

2012/10/1

2012/9/15

2012/9/27

2013/5/18

2013/6/26

2013/5/21

2013/6/21

Yushin-Maru
Yushin-Maru No.2

Reference

SC/64/NPM3

SC/64/NPM3

SC/64/O6

SC/64/IA6,
SC/65a/O4

SC/65a/IA13,
SC/65b/IA6

Table 2. Specifications of the research vessels.
Name

Kyoshin-Maru
No.2

Kaiko-Maru

Yushin-Maru

Yushin-Maru
No.2

Yushin-Maru
No.3

Code

KS2

KK1

YS1

YS2

YS3

Signal letter

JFHR

JGDW

JLZS

JPPV

7JCH

Gross tonnage (Register)

372

860.25

724

747

742

Length overall (m)

68.18

61.90

69.61

69.61

69.61

Barrel height (m)

17.0

19.5

19.5

19.5

19.5

IOP height (m)

10.5

14.5

13.5

13.5

13.5

Upper bridge height (m)

8

9

11.5

11.5

11.5

Main engine output (kW)

1544

1471

3900

3900

3900

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Figure 1. The sub-area for common minke whale in the western North Pacific (IWC, 2014).

Figure 2a.

Survey route for off-shore component and effort (2008).

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Figure 2b.

Survey route for off-shore component and effort (2009 and 2010 (first period).

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Figure 2c.

Survey route and searching effort (Top: 2010 (second periods), Bottom: 2011).

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Figure 2d.

Survey route for off-shore component and effort (2012 first and second periods).

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Figure 2e.

Survey route for off-shore component and effort (2012 third period and 2013).

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Figure 3a. Dedicated sighting survey vessels: Kyoshin-Maru No.2 (left) and Kaiko-Maru (right).

Figure 3b. Dedicated sighting survey vessels: Yushin-Maru (left) and Yushin-Maru No.2 (right).

Figure 3c. Dedicated sighting survey vessel: Yushin-Maru No.3.

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