Whaling cave in

A plan released today by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) confirms negotiations to undo the global moratorium on commercial whaling and allow the Government of Japan to kill whales off its coastline and in international waters.

“This is a case of the good, the bad and the ugly, but without the good.  It’s a bad deal for whales and international efforts to protect them,” said Darren Kindleysides, IFAW Campaigns Manager. 

 “This one-way compromise would lift the commercial whaling moratorium; allow the Government of Japan to kill endangered species, and permit illegal, high-seas whaling to continue.” 

The IWC’s proposal, a plan shaped by commissioners from Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., Japan, Sweden and Brazil engaged in the IWC “Small Working Group” process, contemplates legitimizing Japan's ongoing ‘scientific’ whaling in international waters -- including an internationally recognized whale sanctuary -- as well as extending long-sought authorization to Japan to kill protected whales in its coastal waters.

“The Australian Government was in the room when this plan was drafted. The Australian Government must now be clear on exactly what action will be taken to ensure this deeply flawed proposal proceeds no further than the recycling bin,”  Mr Kindleysides said.

“Rather than compromising hard-won conservation measures and finding ways for whaling to expand, the IWC and its member governments should be negotiating the terms under which Japan, Norway and Iceland will end their commercial whaling activities.”   

On 19 January 2009 an independent group of Antarctic law and policy experts, convened in Canberra by IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), released a report detailing options available to the Australian Government to challenge Japan’s whaling program through the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS).  The report endorses previous legal opinions, sought by IFAW, that concluded the Australian Government can take Japan to the International Court of Justice or the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to challenge the legitimacy of Japan’s ‘scientific’ whaling program.

For media-related inquiries, contact:
Imogen Scott, IFAW Communications Manager 
Tel: (+61) 2 9288 4922
Email: iscott@ifaw.org