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 III) - Coastal component off Kushiro HIDEYOSHI YOSHIDA1, NOBUYUKI ITO2, TOSHIYA KISHIRO1, TOMIO MIYASHITA1, KAZUYOSHI NAKAI3, GEN
NAKAMURA4, HIKARI MAEDA1, KOZUE ISHIDA4, MEGUMI TAKAHASHI4, MASAYOSHI OTA4, YUSUKEFURUYAMA4, KOICHIRO KATO4, RYOTARO HAYASHI4, HISOKA HIRUDA2, SAEKO KUMAGAI2, NAGISASAKAMOTO2, YUKA KIMURA2, IKUTOMO TESHIMA4, AND HIDEHIRO KATO4.
1

National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Fisheries Research Agency, 2-12-4 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku,
Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8648, Japan
2
Association for Community-Based Whaling, Hakata-Kaiseki Building 2F, Hakata-Eki-Higashi, Hakata-ku,
Fukuoka 812-0013, Japan
3
The Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5, Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0055, Japan.
4
Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0075, Japan

Contact e-mail:hideka@fra.affrc.go.jp
ABSTRACTThe JARPN II coastal component off Kushiro, northeast Japan (middle part of the sub-area 7CN) was conductedfrom 4 to 24 September 2014, with additional period for sighting survey in 2-3 September. The survey was
carried out using four small-type whaling catcher boats as sampling vessels in coastal waters within 50 nautical
miles from Kushiro port. All the whales collected were landed at the JARPN II research station for biologicalexamination. During the survey, a total of 3154.1 nautical miles (309.5 hours) was searched and the 110 schools(121 individuals) of common minke whales were encountered. Sightings of 15 schools (16 animals) of
humpback whales and of three schools (four individuals) of fin whales and of six schools (8 individuals) of
sperm whales were also obtained. Of 121 common minke whales encountered, 51 animals were collected.
Average body length of males was 6.28m (SD=1.08, Range=4.51-7.66m, n=35) and 6.44m (SD=0.98,
Range=4.88-8.21m, n=16) for females. The 16 animals of 35 males were sexually mature and 2 of 16 females
attained to sexual maturity. The two mature females were both pregnant. Dominant prey species detected fromwhale forestomach was walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma, 58.8%), followed by Japanese sardine(Sardinops melanostictus, 35.3%), mackerels (Scomber japonicus and S. australasicus, 3.9%) and medusa fish
(Icichthys lockingtoni, 2.1%). Japanese anchovy, which was one of the major prey species in the previous
surveys off Kushiro, was not found from whale forestomach at the present survey. Japanese sardine, which was
first found at the 2012 survey, was the second dominant species. The observation coincided with an increase incatch of Japanese sardine by fisheries around Kushiro, where the species was much caught after an interval ofaround 30 years.
KEYWORDS: COMMON MINKE WHALE; NORTH PACIFIC; COASTAL WATERS OF JAPAN; FOOD/PREY;ECOSYSTEM; SCIENTIFIC PERMITS.

BACKGROUND
The full-scale survey of the second phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in
the Western North Pacific (JARPN II) was started in 2002. The survey mainly aimed at i) feeding ecology
and ecosystem studies, involving prey consumption by cetaceans, prey preferences of cetaceans andecosystem modeling, ii) monitoring environmental pollutants in cetaceans and the marine ecosystem, andiii) elucidation of stock structure of whales (Government of Japan, 2002a).
The full-scale JARPN II consists of two survey components, i.e., offshore and coastal components. The
JARPN surveys (1994-1999) and the JARPN II feasibility study (2000-2001) revealed that common minke
whales are widely distributed from offshore waters into coastal waters and feed on various prey species
such as Japanese anchovy, Pacific saury, and walleye pollock (Government of Japan 2002b; Tamura andFujise 2002). Both the waters are very important fishing grounds. Thus, it is thought that the waters are also
very important area for the full-scale JARPN II program. However, the Nisshin Maru research vessels can1not be operated in near shore areas, because of their movement restrictions in shallow waters and thepresence of fishing gear and many boats. Furthermore, the research vessels are not available from autumn
to early spring. In order to cover the temporal and spatial gap of these vessels, in the full-scale JARPN II,
sampling of common minke whales in coastal waters using small-type whaling catcher boats was planned(Government of Japan, 2002a).
In the first two years of the full-scale JARPN II, feasibility studies were conducted, to examine the logistic
aspects of the methodology in the coastal component. The first feasibility study was carried out in coastal
waters off Kushiro in autumn 2002 and the second one was in coastal waters off Sanriku in spring 2003
(Kishiro et al. 2003, Yoshida et al. 2004). Since no logistic problem occurred in the studies, it was
concluded that the coastal survey could be continued as the component of the full-scale JARPN II, using
the same methodology (Government of Japan 2004b, Kato et al. 2004), while the survey was revised to be
conducted twice a year and to collect 60 common minke whales in each of spring and autumn (Governmentof Japan 2004a).
The first revised full-scale survey was carried out in coastal waters off Kushiro in autumn 2004 (Kishiro etal. 2005), then the coastal survey was conducted annually from 2005 to 2008 (Kishiro et al. 2006, 2008,
Yoshida et al. 2007, 2009). In January 2009, the JARPN II review workshop was carried out in Japan underthe IWC/SC, where the progress made in the first six years of the full-scale JARPN II (2002-2007) was
reviewed by the scientific specialists. Because there was no critical problem in the survey methodology, thecoastal components were continued from 2009 to 2013 (Kishiro et al. 2010, 2012, 2014, Yoshida et al.
2011, 2013), under the original research plan (Government of Japan 2004a).
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 (Government of Japan, 2004a). 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 aswell as a contribution to the management of whales. Sample size of 57 (as recalculated with the latest
information) of which 6 were studied using only non-lethal means. A study for verifying the feasibility ofusing non-lethal methods was carried out.
Here, we show results of the 2014 survey conducted off Kushiro. The National Research Institute of Far
Seas Fisheries (NRIFSF) of the Fisheries Research Agency planned and conducted the survey, undercooperation of the ICR, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, and the Association forCommunity-Based Whaling.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Research area
Research area was set in the same waters where the previous JARPN II coastal surveys off Kushiro wereconducted in 2002-2013 (Kishiro et al. 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, Yasunaga et al. 2012,
Yoshida et al. 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013): the area was in coastal waters within 50 nautical miles from
Kushiro port, southeastern Hokkaido (Fig. 1). The area is included in the middle part of the sub-area 7CN,
established by the IWC.
Research vessels, station, and period
Four small-type whaling catcher boats were used as sampling vessels: Taisho Maru No. 28 (47.3GT), Koei
Maru No. 8 (32.0GT), Katsu Maru No.7 (32.0GT), and Sumitomo Maru No.51 (30.0GT). All the common
minke whales collected were landed at the JARPN II research station established in the Kushiro port, forbiological examination. Research period was set for 50 days, from 5 September to 24 October, 2010.
Additional period for the sighting survey was set in 2-3 September.
Searching and sampling methods
Searching and sampling methods were almost same with those for the first coastal survey off Kushiro in2002 (Kishiro et al. 2003). The research head office established in the research station controlled thesampling vessels during the survey. In order to avoid concentration of searching effort in an area, searching2

areas and direction of vessels were determined by the office, from weather conditions, whale distribution,and information on fishing grounds of coastal fisheries. After vessels left the port, they principally
continued to cruise along the predetermined direction until arriving at 15-30 n. miles from the port, thenchange their direction chosen by themselves and continued searching within the research area. Searching
was carried out in the daytime and vessels returned to the port every night. A researcher was on board eachof vessels and recorded sighting and sampling information, e.g., coordinates and time of common minke
whale sighting and sampling made, weather conditions, and vessel activity. Sighting information was also
recorded for other baleen whales and sperm whales. Searching was conducted by crews and researchers
from the top barrel and upper bridge of vessels running at around 11 knots. All common minke whales
sighted were targeted for sampling, except cow-calf pair. When a school consisted of more than 1 animal,
an individual was selected randomly from the school and then collected. Once a vessel caught a whale, it
returned to the Kushiro port, to transport the animal to the research station. While returning to the port,other common minke whales encountered were also targeted for sampling, if the situation allowed. At theport, animals were lifted from the vessel by the crane, using a wire net and then carried to the station by the
11-ton freight trailer. At that time, body weight of animals was measured using the truck scale.
Practicability survey for biopsy and faecal sampling from the vessel
Practicability survey for biopsy and faecal sampling were also conducted to common minke whales
encountered.
Biological research on common minke whales collected
All the whales collected were examined by biological researchers at the research station. Research items
are listed in Table 2. These items were related to studies on feeding ecology, stock structure, life history andpollutions.
RESULTS
Searching effort made by sampling vessels
The sampling survey was started on 5 September and finished on 24 September. Before that, sighting
survey was conducted in 2-3 September. Of the 22 days, vessels conducted searching for 17 days (77.3%).
The remaining five days were not suitable for survey, from bad weather conditions, e.g., low atmosphericpressure and thick fog. Cruise tracks made by the vessels are shown in Figure 2. Searching distance andtime are given in Table 1. Searching distance and time are defined as distance and time recorded undersearching activity conducted by crews from the top barrel of the vessels. During the survey, a total of3154.1 nautical miles (309.5 hours) was searched.
Sightings made by vessels
All the 110 schools (121 individuals) of common minke whales were sighted during the searching (Table 1,
Fig. 2). No cow-calf pairs were encountered. Cruise tracks were widely distributed in coastal waters within
30 nautical miles from Kushiro port, and sightings of common minke whales were recorded in searchingarea with concentration on continental slope southeast and southwest of Kushiro. Density index of common
minke whales was calculated as 3.30 for DI (the number of primary sightings of schools per 100 nautical
miles searching) and 0.34 for SPUE (the number of primary sightings of schools per 1 hour searching).
During the survey, 15 schools (16 animals) of humpback whales, three schools (four individuals) of fin
whales and 6 schools (8 animals) of sperm whales were also observed (Table 1, Fig. 3).
Sampling of common minke whales
Of the 121 common minke whales encountered, 51 animals were collected for biological examination. In
the sampling process, struck and lost was not occurred. Sighting positions of animals collected are shownin Figure 2.
Practicability survey for biopsy and faecal sampling from the vessel
Biopsy sampling was tried for 8 common minke whales. A sample was collected from each of 5 animals. To
89 animals encountered during the survey, observation of excretion and vomiting behaviour was conducted
for 58.4 hours. A case of excretion was observed, but faecal sample could not be collected. No vomiting
behaviour was encountered.

3

Body length, sex ratio, and maturity of animals caught
Research items of biological examination for the 51 animals collected are summarized in Table 2, with thenumber of data and samples obtained. The individuals consisted of 35 males and 16 females. Sex ratio ofmales to all animals was 68.6%. Average body length was 6.28m (SD=1.08, range=4.51-7.66m) for males
and 6.44m (SD=0.98, range=4.88-8.21m) for females (Table 3). In males, the most dominant length classwas 6.5 m (Fig. 4). It was 5.5 m for females. Male with a single testis weight of 290g or more and female
having at least one corpus luteum or albicans in their ovaries were determined as sexually mature. In males,
16 of 35 individuals (45.7%) were sexually mature (Table 4). In females, two of 16 individuals (12.5%)
were sexually mature. The two mature females were both pregnant. The foetus were male and body lengths
were 132.0cm and 77.1cm.
Prey species found from common minke whale forestomach
Stomach contents of the 51 animals were examined. Following the same methods used in the JARPN II
feasibility survey conducted in 2001 (Fujise, et al., 2002), stomach contents were weighed to the nearest
0.1 kg, by each of four chambers. Weights were recorded both including and excluding liquid contents. A
small quantity of stomach contents was collected and frozen for laboratory analysis. Weight of forestomach
contents including liquid ranged from 5.5 kg to 59.7 kg. Average weight was 28.1 kg. Forestomach contents
found from the whales are listed in Table 5 and Figure 5. Empty stomach was not observed. Dominant preyspecies detected from whale forestomach was walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma, 58.8%), followed
by Japanese sardine (Sardinops melanostictus, 35.3%), mackerels (Scomber japonicus and S. australasicus,
3.9%), and medusa fish (Icichthys lockingtoni, 2.1%). Walleye pollock and Japanese sardine were observed
from forestomach throughout the survey period. Mackerels and medusa fish were detected at early and latestage of the survey, respectively. Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicas) and Pacific saury (Cololabis
saira) were not detected.
Figure 6 shows major prey species found in forestomach of common minke whales by their sexual maturity
stage. Of the 30 animals having walleye Pollock, 20 were sexually immature (66.7%). The 18 animals had
Japanese sardine, of which 11 were immature (61.1%). Two animals having mackerel were both mature.
Medusa fish was had by an immature whale.
Observation of marine debris
Marine debris was detected from stomach of four animals. Each of them swallowed a small piece of plastic
products.
DISCUSSION
In the coastal component off Kushiro, bad weather conditions, e.g., low atmospheric pressure and thick fog,
often prevented sampling vessels from research activities. At the last 2013 survey, sampling vessels could
conduct searching only for 20 days of the 50 days survey period (40.0%). While this ratio was almost samein the previous surveys (e.g., 46.0% in 2013 and 50.0% in 2012), it was higher in the present survey.
Vessels could search for 17 days (77.3% of all days). Density index of common minke whales was also
higher in the present 2014 survey (DI = 3.30) than that of the previous ones (e.g., 2.48 in 2013 and 1.71 in2012). The index suggests that, in the present survey, more animals migrated into the research area. The
good weather condition and higher density of whales would result in early completion of the present survey
in September.
Figure 4 shows body length compositions of common minke whales caught in 2014, with results of theprevious surveys. In the last 2013 survey, large males in 7m length class were most frequently collected.
This length distribution was same with the first five years from 2002 to 2007, in comparison with the recent
years (2008-2013), where smaller animals were more sampled. In the present survey, large males were notcollected so frequently, but animals with various body lengths were obtained.
Kasamatsu and Tanaka (1992) studied prey species of common minke whales taken by commercial whaling
off Kushiro. From late 1960’s to late 1970’s, mackerel was major prey species, then, Japanese sardine wasfound dominantly until 1987, where last catch of commercial whaling was conducted. Dominant species
taken by commercial fisheries around Kushiro during the period shown by Torisawa (2004) was consistent
with the dominant prey species. After 1992, however, catches of the Japanese sardine rapidly decreased.
When the JARPNII coastal component off Kushiro was started in 2002, commercial catch of Japanese4

sardine was extremely low. While no Japanese sardine was detected from stomach of whales collected atthe 2002 survey, Japanese anchovy was found most frequently (Figure. 5). In 2012, Japanese sardine andmackerels were first detected form whale stomach, since the JARPNII survey started. After that, the sardine
is one of the major prey species, replacing the Japanese anchovy. The change of prey species in recent years
coincide with fisheries catch off Kushiro. In autumn 2012, the Japanese sardine and mackerels were muchcaught after an interval of around 30 years and the high catch level was kept in 2013 and 2014. These
results suggest that the stomach contents of whales reflect the large-scale regimes of the Japanese sardine
and anchovy.
Pacific saury was detected from whale stomach in early stages of the JARPNII. But, it has been disappear
from whale stomach since the 2008 survey (Figure. 5). The fish is reported to be mainly distributed inwaters with sea surface temperature (SST) in a range of 10-18°C (Tameishi, 2000). In the present survey,
mean SST of sighting positions of common minke whales was 17.0°C (range=13.3-22.9°C). It was 14.8°C(11.4-16.9 °C) in September 2002, where Pacific saury was found from whale stomach. The SST in the
recent surveys seems to be higher for Pacific saury distribution. From these, possibly, migration of Pacificsaury into the research area off Kushiro was limited, which resulted in no observation of the fish fromwhale stomach.
The present survey with results of the previous ones revealed apparent change of dominant prey species ofcommon minke whales from the Japanese anchovy to sardine. Such information is valuable for the whale
feeding studies for a long period and contributes to the JARPN II objectives.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We acknowledge Drs. Hiroshi Hatanaka (ICR), Seiji Ohsumi (ICR) and Yoshihiro Fujise (ICR), and Messrs.
Yukito Narisawa and Shinichi Tashiro (the Fisheries Agency of Japan), for their guidance in the survey
design and support. Crew of research vessels, staff of the research station in Kushiro, and the Association
for Community-Based Whaling assisted in important aspects of the survey. We also thank the Kushiro
fisheries cooperative association, the municipal office of Kushiro, Hokkaido government Kushiro
sub-prefectural office, and Hokkaido government office, for their kind assistance. The medusa fish
(Icichthys lockingtoni) was identified by Orio Yamamura and his colleagues (Hokkaido National Fisheries
Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency).
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Yoshida, H., Ito, N., Kishiro, T., Miyashita, T., Yasunaga, G., Hara, T., Nakamura, G., Maeda, H., Inoue,
S., Tsutsumi, T., Ishida, K., Tamai, N., Kadowaki, I., Oka, S., Takahashi, M., Fukumoto, A., Kumagai, S.,
Sato, H., Sakamoto, N., Kitayama, K., Kobayashi, N. and Kato, H. 2013. Cruise report of the Second
phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the western North Pacific(JARPN II) in 2012 (Part III) - Coastal component off Kushiro. Paper SC/65a/O6 submitted to the 65ath
IWC Scientific Committee, 12pp.

Table 1. Searching days, distances, hours, and number of cetacean sightings made during the 2014 JARPN II
coastal component off Kushiro.
Number of sightings*
PeriodDays Distances Hours
SpeciesPrimary
Secondary
Total(n. miles)(Ind/Sch)(Ind/Sch)（Ind/Sch）
9/2 - 24223154.1
309.5
Common minke whale
115/104
6/6
212/110
Like minke whale
20/20
4/3
24/23
Fin whale
4/3
0/0
4/3
Humpback whale
12/11
4/4
16/15
Sperm whale
5/5
3/1
8/6
*: The number probably includes some duplicated sightings made by plural vessels.

7

Table 2. Summary of biological data and samples collected during the 2014 JARPN II coastal survey
off Kushiro.
Number of animals
Samples and data
Body length and sex
External body proportion
Photographic record and external body character
Diatom film record
Body scar record
Measurements of blubber thickness (five points)
Body weight
Skin tissues for DNA analysis
Muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, blubber, and heart for various analysis
Urine for various analysis
Muscle, liver, kidney, and blubber for heavy metal analysis
Muscle, liver, kidney, and blubber for organochlorine analysis
Collection of blood plasma
Mammary grand; lactation status, measurement and histological sample
Uterine horn; measurements and endometrium sample
Collection of ovary
Photographic record of foetus
Foetal length and weight
External body measurements of foetus
Skin tissues for DNA study of foetus
Muscle, liver, kidney, heart, blubber and skin tissues of foetus
Eye lens of foetus for age determination
Collection of foetus
Testis and epididymis; weight and histological sample
Stomach contents, convenient record
Volume and weight of stomach content in each compartment
Observation of marine debris in stomach
Collection of stomach contents for feeding study
Record of external parasites
Earplug for age determination
Eye lens for age determination
Baleen plate with V-shape notch on its outer edge for age determination
Baleen plate measurements (length and breadth)
Photographic record of baleen plate series
Length of baleen series
Vertebral epiphyses sample
Number of ribs
Skull measurement (length and breadth)
Content of large intestine
Sampling of pelvic bone
Measurement of flipper white patch

8

Male
35
35
35
35
35
35
35
35
35
11
35
35
25
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
35
35
35
35
34
35
35
35
0
35
35
35
21
35
34
3
0
34

Female
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
5
16
16
12
16
16
16
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
0
16
16
16
9
16
16
3
4
16

Total
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
16
51
51
37
16
16
16
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
35
51
51
51
50
51
51
51
0
51
51
51
30
51
50
6
4
50

Table 3. Body length (m) of common minke whales collected in the 2014 JARPNII coastal component off
Kushiro.
PeriodMale
FemaleMean
S.D. Min. Max.
n
Mean S.D.
Min. Max. n
9/5-9/11
6.99
0.75
5.31
7.66
9
7.14
0.94
6.03
8.21
4
9/12-9/18

5.96

1.12

4.51

7.62

13

6.26

0.81

5.35

7.81

8

9/19-9/24

6.10

1.06

4.66

7.34

13

6.11

1.23

4.88

7.81

4

Total (9/5-9/24)

6.28

1.08

4.51

7.66

35

6.44

0.98

4.88

8.21

16

Table 4. Composition of sexual maturity of common minke whales collected in the 2014 JARPNII
coastal component off Kushiro.
PeriodMale
FemaleTotal Pregnancy* Maturity*

Sex
ratio

Im

M

Total

Maturity*

Im

R

P

9/5-9/11

3

6

9

66.7

3

0

1

4

100.0

25.0

69.2

9/12-9/18

9

4

13

30.8

8

0

0

8

-

0.0

61.9

9/19-9/24

7

6

13

46.2

3

0

1

4

100.0

25.0

76.5

Total (9/5-9/24)
19 16 3545.7
14
Im: Immature; M: Mature; R: Resting; P: Pregnant; *: %.

0

2

16

100.0

12.5

68.6

(%males)

Table 5. Number of common minke whales by major prey species found in forestomach, collected in
the 2014 JARPN II coastal component off Kushiro.
Number of whales (%)
PeriodAll
WalleyeJapanese
MedusaMackerels
pollock
sardinefish
9/5-9/11
7 (53.8)
4 (30.8)
2 (15.4)
0 (-)
13 (100.0)
9/12-9/18

9 (42.9)

12 (57.1)

0 (-)

0 (-)

21 (100.0)

9/19-9/24

14 (82.4)

2 (11.8)

0 (-)

1 (5.9)17 (100.0)

All (9/5-9/24)

30 (58.8)

18 (35.3)

2 (3.9)1 (2.1)51 (100.0)

9

Kushiro

50n. miles

Figure 2. Cruise tracks (upper) and sighting positions (lower) ofcommon minke whales made by sampling vessels during the2014 JARPN II coastal survey off Kushiro. Black and graycircles are sighting positions of common minke whales
collected and biopsy sampled, respectively. Isobaths are
100m, 200m, and 1000m.

Figure 1. Research area set for the 2014 JARPN II coastal survey off
Kushiro. Isobaths are 100m, 200m, 1000m, and 2000m.

10Figure 3. Sighting positions of humpback (white circle), fin (black) andsperm (gray) whales made by sampling vessels during the2014 JARPN II coastal survey off Kushiro. Isobaths are 100m,
200m, and 1000m.

Figure 4. Body length frequency of common minke whales sampled during the 2014 JARPN II
coastal survey off Kushiro, with results of the previous 2002-2013 surveys.

11

Figure 5. Composition of prey species of common minke whales sampled during the 2014 JARPN II
coastal survey off Kushiro, with results of the previous 2002-2013 surveys.

Figure 6. Sexual maturity and body length frequency of common minke whales by their prey species
found in forestomach in the 2014 JARPN II coastal survey off Kushiro.

12

Figure 7. Sighting positions of common minke whales collected during the 2014 JARPN II coastal survey off
Kushiro, shown by their maturity stage and prey species. Walleye Pollock (white circle), Japanesesardine (gray circle), mackerel (gray star), medusa fish (black star). Isobaths are 100m, 200m, and1000m.

13