Report of the scientific committee.

a study involving line transect surveys and blue whale detections from SOWER vessels operating south of Australia in the summers of 1993 and 1995/96. Pooled data from two ships in the different years were used to estimate a blue whale detection function based on 27 sightings. The only estimate considered by the authors to be reliable is that for 1993, based on 12 sightings within the region bounded 35-45°S and 115-125°E, which was 671 (CV 0.45; 95% CI 279-1,613).