MOROCCO: International Whaling Commission meet to thrash out a deal that will decide the fate of the 24 year ban on commercial whaling

Record ID: 463456

  • Title: MOROCCO: International Whaling Commission meet to thrash out a deal that will decide the fate of the 24 year ban on commercial whaling
  • Date: 22nd June 2010
  • Summary: AGADIR, MOROCCO (JUNE 21, 2010) (REUTERS) BAY LES DUNES D'OR CONFERENCE CENTRE WHERE 62ND ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION MEETING IS TAKING PLACE CONFERENCE ENTRANCE WITH POSTERS FOR MEETING POSTER WITH PICTURE OF WHALE DELEGATES ENTERING CONFERENCE GREENPEACE DELEGATION TALKING TO JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) PROGRAMME DIRECTOR FOR GREENPEACE IN JAPAN, JUNICHI SATO, SAYING: "Until now, Japan has been catching whales for 'research' purposes on its own, outside of the jurisdiction of the IWC. Japan was able to create a way to do this (catch whales for research purposes), but at this meeting, we are planning to discuss ways to bring Japan back under the IWC." JOURNALISTS STANDING OUTSIDE CONFERENCE CENTRE ENTRANCE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) PROGRAMME DIRECTOR FOR GREENPEACE IN JAPAN, JUNICHI SATO, SAYING: "The solution that is being presented now is something that cannot be accepted by environmental groups and anit-whaling countries. The window that allows the catching of whales is too big and the framework which allows whaling for research purposes has not been abolished. In the five days, Greenpeace thinks that there is scope for an improvement in this situation which can be made by the member countries of the IWC" ANTI-WHALING PROTESTERS OUTSIDE CENTRE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) PROGRAMME DIRECTOR FOR GREENPEACE IN JAPAN, JUNICHI SATO, SAYING: "Up until now, at the IWC, a temporary stop to commercial whaling has put into effect. But for example, Japan decides the number of whales it catches for research purposes which means that Japan is unilaterally deciding the window for catching whales. This is a negative point about the IWC so at this meeting, we think the big focus is going to be on whether or not this can be amended." VARIOUS OF TWO ANTI-WHALING CAMPAIGNERS UNFURLING BANNERS OUTSIDE CONFERENCE CENTRE GUARDS STANDING OUTSIDE CONFERENCE CENTRE
  • Embargoed: 7th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Morocco
  • Country: Morocco
  • Topics: International Relations,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVA7PUILYJUZQ3U5LQQ43L7TCETK
  • Story Text: The International Whaling Commission (IWC) met on Monday (June 21) to thrash out a deal that will decide the fate of the 24 year ban on commercial whaling.
    Replacing a whaling moratorium with a controlled cull will be discussed by negotiators to forge a compromise between nations who say hunting whales is their birthright and those who call it a crime against nature.
    A moratorium has been in force for 24 years but Japan, Norway and Iceland have caught thousands of whales since the 1980s, arguing that they are not bound by a total ban despite international condemnation.
    A proposal to be debated when the 88-nation IWC meets in the Moroccan city of Agadir offers a compromise: the moratorium would be lifted for 10 years but in return whaling would be subject to strict control.
    That idea has been given qualified support by some in the anti-whaling camp who say if the killing cannot be stopped for now, the pragmatic approach is to try to limit it.
    Some campaigners say lifting the moratorium is a sell-out.
    "The solution that is being presented now is something that cannot be accepted by environmental groups and anit-whaling countries. The window that allows the catching of whales is too big and the framework which allows whaling for research purposes has not been abolished. In the five days, Greenpeace thinks that there is scope for an improvement in this situation which can be made by the member countries of the IWC,"said Programme Director for Greenpeace in Japan, Junichi Sato The pro-whaling camp says the proposal to be debated at the meeting in Agadir on June 21 is a ruse to outlaw all whaling.
    Its supporters say the number of whales that could be killed under the quotas would be substantially less than now, when the three whaling nations set their own quotas and hunt whales outside the IWC's control.
    Whaling campaigners say the outcome of the debate could come down to the position taken by Japan, which hunts hundreds of whales each season for what it says are research purposes.
    "Up until now, at the IWC, a temporary stop to commercial whaling has put into effect. But for example, Japan decides the number of whales it catches for research purposes which means that Japan is unilaterally deciding the window for catching whales. This is a negative point about the IWC so at this meeting, we think the big focus is going to be on whether or not this can be amended," Sato told Reuters television.
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