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International Whaling Commission Resolution
2002-1 Guidance
to the Scientific Committee on the Sanctuary Review Process RECALLING that amendments to the
Schedule, including the establishment of Sanctuaries, require criteria for their
periodic review by the Scientific Committee. CONVINCED that the establishment
of Sanctuaries for conservation purposes represents an integral part of best
management practices for wildlife in general.
NOTING that sanctuaries were
established and have been maintained for a number of reasons, of which
scientific considerations, although important, should not be definitive in the
validation process. When
considering scientific arguments for sanctuary evaluation, if consensus is not
possible, then a precautionary approach should prevail. RECALLING FURTHER that since
1995, the IWC has recognised the need for a broader understanding of
environmental changes and threats affecting whale stocks in the Antarctic marine
ecosystem and recommended the application of precautionary principles in their
discussions. On several occasions there was consistent support within the SC
(2002) for the precautionary approach, specially when dealing with Arctic and
Antarctic resource management. (SC/54/IA7, IA11, IA15, SC/54/E3, E11, E16,
SC/54/IA7, IA11, IA18, SC/54/BRG4). RECOGNISING that if there is no
consensus on specific issues within sanctuaries, the Precautionary Approach
should limit the negative impacts of environmental uncertainty (e.g.
effects of climate change over sea-ice dynamics and feeding habitat
accessibility and unforeseen problems in the RMP to the other regions where it
was applied). In such cases, currently established sanctuaries complement the
provisions of paragraph 10 e) of the Schedule as an integral management
strategy. TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that
sanctuaries of appropriate spatial and temporal scales are consistent with the
practice of establishing large-scale areas closed to harvest as essential
components of best management practices. These
no-take regions should therefore be regarded independently of any other
management actions or the provisions of paragraph 10(e) of the Schedule to the
Convention. The long-term provisions and dimensions of an individual sanctuary
depend on factors other than those determining the Commission's short-term
management policy. NOW, THEREFORE,
THE COMMISSION: INSTRUCTS the
Scientific Committee that, in reviewing Sanctuaries, it includes the following
principles in addition to those in the Instructions from the Commission to the
Scientific Committee for Review of Sanctuaries approved by the 53rd
Annual Meeting. 1)
Temporary overlap of management measures, for example Para 10(e) of the Schedule
and a sanctuary, cannot be used to invalidate any long-term scientific and
conservation value of a given Sanctuary. 2)
The application of the Precautionary Approach shall be determined in accordance
to Principle 15 of the 1992 Rio Declaration. |
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