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Pro-whalers may seize International Whaling Commission
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| Norwegian whaling boat, May 2005. | June 2006
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is currently holding its 58th annual meeting on the island of St. Kitts in the Caribbean.
The IWC was established in 1946 to conserve whales and regulate whaling. For the first time in its history, the pro-whaling nations have a voting majority. While this does not mean that Japan could overturn the ban on commercial whaling (which would require a ¾ vote), it does have serious implications for the work carried out at the meeting - - and for whales.
“Japan and Norway have already doubled their whaling quotas, and are planning to kill up to 2,000 whales this year. If they have their way, the pro-whaling nations could use this meeting to seize control of the agenda. This would mean that current items such as whale welfare, conservation and other critical issues will be erased from the agenda. The only discussion points will be ones that pro-whaling nations want to address. We're determined to keep that from happening,” said Susan Sherwin, Campaigns Manager for WSPA USA. Sherwin, along with many colleagues from the Whalewatch coalition, will be in St. Kitts for the IWC meeting.
The Whalewatch coalition, led by WSPA, is urging the IWC to address the welfare problems associated with modern day whaling activities and recognize that the whaling debate is not just about conservation, but also about animal suffering.
WSPA will be posting updates as the IWC meeting progresses, so please check this site frequently.
For additional information about whales and whaling, please click the links below.
Troubled Waters - a review of the welfare implications of modern whaling activities
Food for Thought: Competition between marine mammals and fisheries
Scientific Whaling - species chart
Humpback whale fact sheet
Minke whale fact sheet
Sperm whale fact sheet
Short-finned Pilot whale fact sheet
The RMS and Animal Welfare
Marine Noise
Whale watching vs. Whaling - The Economics
Whales vs. Fish
Why Whales and the IWC are Important to Caribbean Nations
Action Alert: Caribbean IWC Member Countries
Action Alert: Caribbean IWC Non-member Countries
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