Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 7 • Number 12 • 22nd June 2007

Whale Conservation Scores a Double Victory

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Acting independently but within two weeks of one another, two international governing bodies held firm in their support of a worldwide moratorium on whaling.

In separate actions, both the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) rejected requests from Japan and other pro-whaling nations to challenge the IWC’s international ban on commercial whaling, which has been in effect since 1986.

Japan, which has long lobbied for an end to the moratorium, requested at last month’s annual IWC meeting in Anchorage, Alaska permission for several of its coastal communities to hunt the marine mammals, but withdrew the proposal when it became apparent that it would not garner enough votes for passage (see Bridges Trade BioRes, 8 June 2007, http://www.ictsd.org/biores/07-06-08/story2.htm). In another blow to the pro-whalers, the IWC adopted a symbolic resolution reaffirming the commission’s support of the two-decade-old whaling ban. Angered by what it called the commission’s “double standard” and lack of sincerity, Japan threatened to withdraw from the IWC and establish its own international whaling forum.

Shifting strategies, Japan and its pro-whaling allies, which include Brazil, Iceland, and Norway, took their case to CITES, whose 171 member nations met in the Netherlands from 3-15 June (see related story, this issue). In a bold move, Japan asked the convention to review the status of all 13 whale species that are currently listed on Appendix I, meaning that all trade in those species is prohibited. A CITES determination that the whale stocks were healthy could result in a lifting of the ban of trade in whale parts, a move that would amount to an approval of commercial whaling itself.

However, CITES delegates rejected Japan’s proposal by a wide margin. Further affirming the convention’s anti-whaling stance, delegates adopted an Australian amendment stating that the convention should never review the listing of whale species so long as the IWC moratorium remains in effect.

The double victory for whale conservation garnered strong praise from environmental groups.

“Both the IWC and CITES have now spoken in favour of whale protection and conservation,” said Kitty Block of The Humane Society International. “It is clear that there is no international will to resume commercial whaling or international trade in their parts.” “It’s a one-two punch for the whales,” added Patrick Ramage of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

“Japan loses CITES bid on whales,” REUTERS, 6 June 2007; “Protections for Elephants, Whales, Tigers, Emerge From Conservation Forum,” EARTHTIMES.ORG, 15 June 2007; “U.N. Conference Closes With Mixed Results for Endangered Species,” PRESSZOOM, 15 June 2007; “Cash row at wildlife trade forum,” BBC NEWS, 16 June 2007; “Japanese whale request rejected,” BBC NEWS, 6 June 2007.