1 Distributions and standardized abundance estimates for humpback, fin and blue whales in the Antarctic Areas IIIE, IV, V and VIW (35oE-145oW), south of 60oS

The sighting component of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA) was designed as a large-scale and long-term monitoring exercise using line-transect surveys. It was carried out in a broadly consistent way every other year in Areas IV and V between 1987/88 and 2004/05 austral summer seasons. The most important aspect is that sighting surveys are repeated in the same area in the same month (mainly January and February) for 18 years. For the whole period a total search distance on primary effort of 293,811 n.miles was achieved during 6,188 ship-days. The sighting survey procedures were very similar to those used IWC/IDCR-SOWER surveys. This paper reports current distributions and abundance estimates of humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and blue (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) whales in the Antarctic Areas IIIE, IV, V and VIW, south of 60oS. Analyses were conducted using the DISTANCE program taking into account the suggestions offered in recent IWC/SC meetings to correct minute biases in estimates. The greatest concentration of humpback whales occurred recently east of the Kerguelen Plateau, between 80°-120°E and latitudinal and longitudinal expansions of this area was observed. In general, fin whales are more occurred in Area V than Area IV. However, in recent year they have been observed frequently in the western part of Area IV. High densit