Abstract
In response to concerns raised by readers, the Publisher has sought clarification on a number of points from the authors.
The authors cited Freitas et al., 2023 because a Portuguese research institute was listed as an author affiliation by the primary author. Following publication, the corresponding author of that study contacted the journal to say that the Portuguese organization neither ordered nor financed this whaling research. Sage have revised the sentence to the following: “In other words, we listed scientists conducting research elsewhere that would not be acceptable or perhaps even legal in their home country or that which their institute is based. This may not be confined to Iceland. We also note a recent publication where a Portuguese research institution is listed as the corresponding author’s secondary affiliation for a study that reports results from commercial whaling in Norwegian waters. (Freitas et al., 2023)”
The authors have explained in their citation of Kvadsheim et al., 2021, the authors only refer to the US-based researchers involved in the cited study. Additionally, the publisher has received correspondence from the primary investigator of the cited study stating that they are permitted to do what they believe is similar auditory evoked potential (AEP) research on stranded whales in US waters and that therefore they would have been able to obtain permits for the work in US territorial waters, provided it were logistically possible.
In response the authors stated that the research that was conducted in Norway cannot be considered similar to AEP research on stranded whales. In the case of AEP research on whales that strand incidentally on a coast, there is little if any additional stress or risk to the welfare of stranded animals which are already compromised. In the case of the research discussed in the article, the process of catching and restraining free-living whales results in considerable additional stress and the risks are evidenced by the death of one minke whale and the release of another partway through the experiment because of concerns regarding its wellbeing (rapid breathing, arching, and vomiting) (Kleivane et al., 2024). https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.50.4.2024.352”
Since it is not conclusively determined whether the study would have been permitted in US waters, the Publisher places this note to alert the readers.