IFAW: London conference addresses future of the world’s whales

(London – March 6, 2008) The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is holding an intercessional meeting in London to address the impasse between countries which support whale conservation, and the minority, led by the government of Japan, that advocate a return to widespread commercial whaling.

A global ban on commercial whaling was approved by member nations of the IWC in 1986, yet since the ban came into effect, more than 30,000 whales have been killed for commercial purposes, mostly by Japan and Norway. Today’s (Thursday) attempt to resolve the issue comes as Japan’s Southern Ocean whaling season comes to an end and plans are made for next year’s hunt.

“Our planet’s great whales face more threats than ever before, yet the government of Japan continues to hijack an international forum for a pro-whaling agenda,” said Patrick Ramage, Director of IFAW’s Global Whale programme, who is attending the meeting. “Unlawful whaling activities should not be used as a bargaining chip to legitimise and expand commercial whaling in the 21st Century. It is time for the great nation of Japan to stop whaling.”

International panels of independent legal experts have found the whaling currently conducted by Japan – which is killing some 1,400 whales this year in North Pacific and Antarctic waters – to be illegal.

Many argue that the 1946 Convention which was conceived to regulate whaling activity, should reflect the new global consensus to promote the conservation of whales.

“The range of threats to whales has expanded far beyond what the original signatories to the Convention could have foreseen. Given these grave threats, the IWC must emerge from the London meeting with a clearer and reinforced mandate for whale conservation as opposed to whaling,” Ramage added.

Robbie Marsland, Director of IFAW UK, said: “IFAW opposes commercial and so-called ‘scientific’ whaling because it is inherently cruel, with harpooned whales taking up to half an hour to die. With new and emerging threats such as ocean noise pollution, global warming, ship collisions, entanglement in fishing gear and countless others, whales also face more threats today than at any other time in history.”

Ends

IFAW has representatives attending the IWC intercessional meeting. For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Clare Sterling at IFAW UK on +44 (0) 20 7587 6708, mobile +44 (0) 7917 507717, or email csterling@ifaw.org

Founded in 1969, IFAW is an international animal welfare and conservation organisation with offices in 15 countries, working to protect wild and domestic animals and to promote solutions that benefit both animals and people.