Management Committees

Management Committee for Cetaceans

Management Committee for Seals and Walruses

Management Committees make proposals for conservation and management and recommendations for scientific research with respect to stocks of marine mammals within their mandate. Currently there is a Management Committee for Cetaceans, which was the former general Management Committee, and a second newly established Management Committee for Seals and Walruses (which had its first meeting at the NAMMCO 16th Council meeting). The Rules of Procedure govern the Committees' functions. The Chair of the Management Committee for Cetaceans is Ulla Wang (Faroe Islands) and the vice-Chair is Nette Levermann (Greenland). The Chair of the Management Committee for Seals and Walruses is Hild Ynnesdal (Norway) and the vice-Chair is Ásta Einarsdottír (Iceland).
 
The Committee on Inspection and Observation (Chaired by Nette Levermann, Greenland) that monitors the implementation of  the Joint Control Scheme for the Hunting of Marine Mammals previously reported to the Management Committee. However, at the 16th NAMMCO Council meeting in 2007, it was agreed that this committee would in future report directly to Council to avoid duplication of discussions within the two Management Committees.

The Management Committees may also appoint Working groups to investigate specific issues. In recent years these have included an Ad Hoc Working Group on Enhancing Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM), a Working Group on By-Catch, and a Working Group on User Knowledge in Management. Topics considered under EBM and User Knowledge in Management were recently (NAMMCO 16 in 2007) transferred to Council and any associated Working Groups were requested to report directly to Council. The By-Catch topic was also transferred to the Scientific Committee for consideration.