Minke whale
The management of this species is based on the Revised Management Procedure (RMP) developed by the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. The inputs to this procedure are catch statistics and absolute abundance estimates. The present quotas are based on abundance estimates calculated from surveys conducted in 1989, 1995, 1996–2001 and 2002–2007.
The most recent estimates (2002–2007) are 78,500 minke whales for the Northeastern stock, and for the Jan Mayen area, which is also exploited by Norwegian whalers, 24,900 animals. The present (2009) quota of 885 animals is considered precautious, conservative and protective for the minke whale population in the Northeast Atlantic. At present only Norway utilizes this quota.
Harp seals
The Northeast Atlantic stocks of harp seals are assessed every second year by the Joint ICES/NAFO Working Group on Harp and Hooded Seals. The assessments are based on modelling, which provides ICES with sufficient information to give advice on both status and catch potential of the stocks. The current adult population is close to the lowest observed in the historical time series. ICES considers the catch model for the White Sea/Barents Sea harp seal population to be unreliable for estimating the impact of future catches. However, the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) approach was used to estimate a catch of 21 881 animals, which is generally regarded as sustainable. The catches in recent years have been lower than the quotas.
