IWC proposal will allow commercial whaling in Antarctic Ocean
23/04/2010 09:16:04
Commercial whaling could get green light for first time in nearly 25 yearsApril 2010. A new proposal announced by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) would, if adopted, for the first time in 25 years, endorse the killing of whales in their most precious feeding grounds, the Southern Ocean.
Japan, Iceland & Norway
The IWC has had a moratorium on commercial whaling since 1986 but Iceland and Norway have legal objections to the moratorium and Japan continues to conduct commercial whaling using a loophole in the IWC which allows whales to be killed for "scientific purposes."
In an effort to bring this whaling under IWC's control, the Chair of the IWC has proposed to give these countries official commercial whaling quotas for the next 10 years.
Quotas not set by science - But by political haggling
"The proposed quotas are not set using the IWC's own scientific methods, but are a result of political bargaining which has little if anything to do with the whales' themselves," said Wendy Elliott, Species Program manager, WWF-International. "Setting quotas for commercial whaling based on politics not science would be a step backwards for IWC," Elliott said.
Proposal would legitimise commercial whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary
If adopted the new proposal would legitimise commercial whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, despite the IWC's absolute ban on commercial whaling in this area since 1994. The Southern Ocean is the main feeding ground of many whale species such as Blue whales, Humpback whales and Fin whales.
"The Southern Ocean is the whale equivalent of a restaurant or supermarket. Some whales feed exclusively in the Southern Ocean - not eating at all during the winter months when they travel up to tropical waters" added Elliott.
"If there is one place on earth where whales should have full protection, it is the Southern Ocean. Allowing commercial whaling in an area where whales are so vulnerable goes against all logic."
Furthermore the IWC Chair has proposed commercial whaling quotas for whale species listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as endangered.
Commercial killing of Endangered species
Both Fin whales and Sei whales are endangered species, yet this proposal would allow the commercial killing of 65 Fin whales in the Southern Ocean and 500 Sei whales in the North Pacific over a ten year period. "Both Fin and Sei whale species were depleted to severely low levels by previous whaling that spun out of control, and remain endangered as a result. Allowing new commercial whaling on these species when they have yet to recover from previous whaling is management madness."
"This plan is a whaler's wish list," said Patrick Ramage, IFAW's Whale Programme Director. "It throws a lifeline to a dying industry when endangered whale populations face more threats than ever before. This would be a breathtaking reversal of decades of conservation progress at the IWC."
The IWC, comprised of 88-member governments, is the global body responsible for conservation of our planet's great whales. Three member countries - Japan, Norway and Iceland - have continued to hunt whales in defiance of the worldwide commercial whaling ban. The plan proposes annual whale hunting quotas for these countries under the discretion of the IWC.
The current proposal would also:
- Overturn the global ban on commercial whaling and allow hunting in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary around Antarctica.
- Approve the killing of whales for commercial purposes by Japan around Antarctica and in the North Pacific.
- Add new rights for Japan to hunt whales in its coastal waters.
- Allow continued whaling by Iceland and Norway in violation of long-agreed scientific procedures and the global whaling ban.
725,000 Fin whales killed
The Sei whale in the North Pacific was reduced from 42,000 to just 8,600 by whaling in the late 20th Century, when 40,000 Sei whales were killed. The extent to which this whale population has recovered is not clear. 725,000 Fin whales were killed in the Southern Hemisphere in the twentieth century, and the most recent estimate puts numbers at just 15,178.
Some positive aspects
The positive aspects of the proposal include increased efforts to secure the recovery of depleted whale populations, action on critical conservation threats facing whales such as bycatch and climate change, and improved governance and compliance.
IWC meeting
The members of the IWC will decide whether to adopt the proposal at its next annual meeting in Agadair, Morocco, June 21st - 25th.
"WWF calls on all countries attending the IWC meeting to put science and responsible management back at the forefront of IWC decision making."
Read the comments about this article and leave your own comment
Often i have almost found myself anti-anti whaling, in that although i know past (and current) whaling has caused a terrible number of problems for current whale populations and thus has caused endless problems for the rest of the ecosystem, and that it is oftem conducted in a very crude and cruel way. I also however don't like to condone the 'we can't kill and certainly can't eat any big mammles' view that many people adopt often in ignorance.
Nonetheless this proposal is madness! despite my views above i am a conservationalist and to allow whalers access to vunerable species in what is supposed to be a 'sanctuary' does not make sense in any way shape or form!
Posted by: Katie | 22 Jun 2010 08:54:52
how sad! the whales are being sold as food! And in which they are whaling in the whale SANCTUARY! The Anti-whalers are doing the best that they can in defending the whales! Some people thing that this is great well I think that it is WRONG! WRONG WRONG WRONG!!! The whales are the humble being of not the waters, but the whole world!!! I say stop the whalers! STOP THEM! Because if this keeps on.... lets just say you won't hear the word "whale" ever again. Your grandchildren in the future might question " where are all the whales? " your response " they are gone... they were all killed " TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THIS FOREVER!!! ACT AS A TEAM AND WE CAN DO THIS!!! :D
Posted by: Angela Solis | 06 Jun 2010 22:48:50
I see the numbers of whales that are killed with it being illegal i can't imagine any whales being left if the make it legal to kill them. such a shame it is all about the countries with all the money to buy what they want. I sure hope this does not pass
Posted by: Joyce nott | 28 Apr 2010 14:01:21
According to the IWC website the Southern Ocean is a supposed "Sanctuary" for Whales, Dictionary Definition:-a tract of Ocean/land where Sealife/wildlife, esp. those hunted for sport, can breed and take refuge in safety from hunters. So let me get this straight you have over time aloud a piece of ocean to become a "Sanctuary" Where no Whaling is aloud - Whereby these Beautiful mammals have learned that this is a safe environment........This is the bit I'm finding hard to understand.......Now the IWC basically plan to turn this so called "Sanctuary" Into a "Killing ground". I hope you can sleep at night with that kind of Blood on your hands.
Posted by: Stephen Pollard | 26 Apr 2010 10:48:05
Posted by: Stephen Pollard | 26 Apr 2010 10:37:39
This is disgusting!! The Southern Ocean needs protecting!! Do people not realise what they are doing is destroying the balance of the entire marine ecosystem? With deep sea fishing already destroying the open ocean, and coastal habitats being destroyed by idiots fishing for "tropical" fish for their aquariums (using illegal cyanide to catch them, causing the fish to die weeks later and obliterating coral reefs and coastal habitats), the ocean is already in deep trouble. With global warming also having an effect polar bears are both drowning as pack ice they use to hunt thaws, and coming further inland, putting human lives at risk (although at this time I am struggling to feel sympathy)... now we are campaigning to once again stop whales (including endangered species) from being hunted for "meat" and "science". This is attrocious, and I can only hope and pray that Obama has an ounce of compassion in his body (as well as other countries including here in the UK) and puts a block on this. This CANNOT be allowed to go ahead!!!!!
Posted by: claire larravide | 26 Apr 2010 10:22:05
Extinction is forever! What a price we pay for others greed.
Posted by: Melody Jackson | 25 Apr 2010 21:07:27
Posted by: Melody Jackson | 25 Apr 2010 21:01:16
I believe that pressure must be put on the Obama Administration to change their current thinking that this quota system is a good idea. The establishment of quotas will do nothing in deterring Japan and Iceland from their hunting of the whale. For more information on this subject you should go to Greenpeace.org where you can register your protest.
Posted by: Mike Morton | 25 Apr 2010 14:41:29
Il ne faut pas permettre aux Japonais de pouvoir aller pêcher la baleine, ces mammifères sont en voie d'extinction,donc raison de plus de les empêcher de faire ces actes de barbarie!!! Qu'est-ce que ça va finir par leur prendre pour qu'ils finissent par comprendre un jour que ce qu'ils font n'a pas de sens??!! Pourtant ils se disent très instruits,alors,cela devrait être facile pour eux de comprendre les mots:écosystème, en voie de disparition, ....,le reste de la population est contre ce qu'ils font,....NON???
Posted by: Sonia Laliberté | 25 Apr 2010 00:30:57
I think RARC has inadvertently hit the nail on the head. Antarctica is divided between several nations including UK, Australia and New Zealand- countries in which whaling is abhorred. If those nations could be persuaded to enforce their domestic national laws over and within their own territory in accordance with the will of their peoples, then Iceland and Japan at least would be in difficulties whilst Norwegian whalers would have to keep a close eye on their GPS. Imperialism might be the answer (incidentally Japan was a coloniser never a colony).
Posted by: Clive Freemantle | 23 Apr 2010 23:44:53
I cannot believe this proposal. How on Earth can they justify the slaying of these majestic creatures. Man is trepassing on their home space . Most of what I feel has been said by other comments. I wonder what the world would have been like if we had never evolved. The countless creatures who would have lived their natural life spans, notwithstanding their natural preditors. I envisage a planet alive with forrests and animals, and teeming with oceans full of beautiful marine life. Our Earth breathing free
Mankind does not deserve this planet.
Posted by: Vivien Green | 23 Apr 2010 21:48:11
I find it totally appaling that the IWC has even considered opening up commercial whaling once again. Did they not learn anything from the last period when whaling was permitted. A drastic reduction of the amount of whales left alive. If the ban had not been put in place there would have been no whales left alive today. This proposal is I am sure the result of certain governments putting pressure on the IWC, and no doubt there is a lot of money being supplied to ensure that the present ban is lifted. At present due to the huge demand from China requiring animal parts for medicinal purposes and ancient forests being clear cut, resulting in animal habitat loss, it will not belong before the only whales, elephants and tigers to name a few are future children will be able to see, will be in picture books. Let us all do what we can to prevent the IWC from lifting the ban on commercial whaling,
Posted by: colin guest | 23 Apr 2010 20:54:35
Very sad, but money talks and at the end of the day that is what will make the decision, not common sense..:-(
Posted by: paul compton | 23 Apr 2010 18:22:28
The proposed agreement has merit: Brave but divisive acts on the high seas by Sea Shepherd, or bombast and bluster on the safe side of the shore have failed to stop whaling. In fact, the number of whales taken each year has increased. Collectively, these acts and words are seen as part of an imperialistic assault on the Japanese culture, and ironically, they have only served to further entrench the Japanese government’s support for whaling. The only way to get Japan, Iceland and Norway, to stop this brutal practice is to reach out to the ordinary citizens of these countries and get them to work against whaling from within. Louis Psihoyos’ Academy Award-winning film, The Cove, is making slow but steady progress toward that goal. However, changing a culture takes a long time and the proposed agreement the IWC will consider in June at least puts stricter controls on whaling while setting an end point to the slaughter. Unless someone has a better way to put an end to whaling, this agreement should be seriously considered. As Thomas Paine once said, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” Please visit my blog: whaleanddolphintalk.blogspot.com/
Posted by: RARC | 23 Apr 2010 16:54:08
I'm ashamed being of the "human" race.
Important : are those things, which make life better for all creatures.
Posted by: Roger Baeyens | 23 Apr 2010 16:14:38
"Some positive aspects"? There are no positive aspects here. How many years has the IWC been attempting "improved governance and compliance"? This is a complete failure. All I see here is a big win for whaling nations. As if we don't have enough battlefronts already against the exploitation and abuse of animals.
Posted by: brightthings | 23 Apr 2010 15:52:27
How can they justify the killing of these beautiful creatures in the Southern feeding grounds, it's cray. Whaling should not be allowed anywhere, never mind their feeding grounds!!!
Posted by: Greg | 23 Apr 2010 14:52:53
Nothing suprises me any more we humans are a parasite on this poor planet and it's other species. Planet Earth has a Cancer it's called the human race. WHEN WILL WE UNDERSTAND that there is only one Planet Earth and as the so called Top species we should use our power to prolong Her & the Species that live on Her instead of wiping them out.
Posted by: Stephen Pollard | 23 Apr 2010 14:48:03
I say boycott all products from any country that does this. We don't need there products. The whales are like the waters, no one owns them. They are all of the peoples whales and I can assure you the majority does not want this done. I think we should all join together to stop this. Together we can cost them heavily in product sales.
Posted by: Quad Cities Waterkeeper | 23 Apr 2010 14:16:27