IWC photo-identification catalogues: draft guidelines.

Abstract

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has a history of using data and analyses from photo-identification catalogues to assist with its work. (Within this document the term ‘photo-ID catalogue’ describes a database that includes whale identification photographs with corresponding dates and geographic positions. Photo-identification data have been used to identify patterns of movement, residency, habitat use, population structure and to estimate abundance and other population parameters (e.g. Bradford et al., 2008; Calambokidis et al., 2009; Carroll et al., 2011; Koski et al., 2010; Wedekin, et al., 2010; Whitehead et al., 2008; see also Rep. int. Whal. Commn., Special Issue 12, 1990). Recognising the great value of such studies (e.g. IWC, 1990), the IWC has supported the development of photoidentification catalogues to facilitate assessment work (e.g. Southern Hemisphere humpback whales, Southern Hemisphere blue whales and Pacific gray whales). Such catalogues can also assist in providing information on entanglement, ship strikes and health status. The IWC has supported (financially or by submitting photographs from IWC cruises) what can broadly be considered two types of photo-identification catalogues: (1) ‘independent’ catalogues that are pertinent to specific on-going assessments but for which maintenance and control belongs outside the IWC; and (2) ‘repository’ catalogues that have IWC oversight. Repository catalogues are supported for the general value of their data and potential use for assessment in the future whether or not they are currently being used by the IWC in an on-going assessment (e.g. the Antarctic Humpback Whale Catalogue). Catalogues can move from one status to another during the progress of assessments. In repository status, catalogue holders need only submit an annual report (see reporting, below). For an on-going assessment, the data requested may include full catalogues, re-sighting records, and possibly additional, associated data (behaviour, sex, age class, etc.). In this case, if an independent catalogue has received funding it would provide a summary report in addition to the contributed data.