Anti-whaling countries clash over Japan's bid to end commercial whaling ban

Record ID: 1355927

  • Title: Anti-whaling countries clash over Japan's bid to end commercial whaling ban
  • Date: 12th September 2018
  • Summary: FLORIANOPOLIS, BRAZIL (SEPTEMBER 12, 2018) (REUTERS) GENERAL OF ROOM HOSTING THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION'S (IWC) 67TH PLENARY MEETING VARIOUS OF JAPANESE DELEGATION PREPARING FOR START OF MEETING JAPANESE DELEGATION LOOKING AT AGENDA VARIOUS OF PANEL AND SCREEN AT MEETING THAT READS (English) "PROPOSAL ON ABORIGINAL SUBSISTENCE WHALING" VARIOUS OF DELEGATION MEMBE
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2018 18:27
  • Keywords: whales meeting International Whaling Commission Florianopolis Brazil conservation
  • Location: FLORIANOPOLIS, BRAZIL
  • City: FLORIANOPOLIS, BRAZIL
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Environment,Nature/Wildlife
  • Reuters ID: LVA0018XBOE2R
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Anti-whaling countries have collided with Japan's bid to resume commercial whaling operations and end a 32-year-old moratorium during this year's annual IWC meeting this year in Florianopolis, Brazil.
    At the meeting, Japan proposed establishing a committee dedicated to "sustainable whaling," including commercial whaling and aboriginal subsistence whaling.
    On Wednesday (September 12), member nations voted on new catch limits for Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling which are usually renewed every six years. It passed by 58 votes to 7 with 5 abstentions. Nevertheless, the resumption of commercial whaling operations, proposed by Japan, will continue to be discussed this week.
    The creation of a South Atlantic whale sanctuary, proposed on Tuesday (September 11) by host nation Brazil, failed to achieve the three-quarters majority needed for adoption (39 for, 25 against and three abstentions).
    Japan is one of a handful of countries, including Norway and Iceland, which continue to hunt the ocean mammals by making use of a loophole allowing "scientific whaling," where carcasses are examined before the meat is sold for consumption.
    Tokyo argues that the IWC's mandate to find a balance that preserves whaling stocks has become skewed towards preservation at the expense of the whaling industry and that population numbers of the world's largest mammals have recovered.
    Japan faces stiff opposition from countries like Australia and environmental groups. They argue that any return to mainstream commercial whaling will see whales return to the brink of becoming an endangered species.
    Meanwhile, just outside the conference, environmental activists gathered to protest any attempts to resume commercial whaling operations.
    The IWC conference runs until Friday (September 14).
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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