Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 7 • Number 8 • 27th April 2007

Conference Seeks Solutions to End Whaling Deadlock

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With the debate at the International Whaling Commission polarised between pro-whaling and anti-whaling countries (see Bridges Trade BioRes, 16 February 2007, http://www.ictsd.org/biores/07-02-16/inbrief.htm#2), a recent meeting in New York tried to find ways to break the deadlock by exploring new options allowing the conservation of whales.

Over 60 experts participated in the “Symposium on the Conservation of Whales in the 21st Century” — which was sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trust — to consider scientific, legal and political issues.

Trade-related issues featured among the topics of discussions. Some participants suggested that a ban on trade in whale meat could help stem demand, leading to the gradual phase-out of whaling. Whale meat is mainly consumed in Japan, which engages in “scientific” whaling after an international moratorium on commercial whaling was put in place in 1986. The meat is then sold for consumption. Recent Icelandic whale hunts have been conducted despite a lack of domestic demand for whale meat, with whalers banking on exports to Japan (see Bridges Trade BioRes, 20 October 2006, http://www.ictsd.org/biores/06-10-20/inbrief.htm). Norway has also exported whale blubber to Japan.

Participants also highlighted the fact that the existing whaling fleet is highly subsidised, and would be unviable without government funding. They noted ongoing discussions at the WTO aiming to curb fisheries subsidies (see Bridges Trade BioRes, 30 March 2007, http://www.ictsd.org/biores/07-03-30/story1.htm), suggesting that whaling subsidies should be disciplined as well.

At the end of the meeting, the Chair summarised a number of specific recommendations emanating from the discussions, as well as four general recommendations to: conduct more research into the economics of whaling, and particular into the issue of subsidies; raise awareness within pro-whaling countries regarding all aspects of the practise; improve dialogue by establishing new forums or mechanisms to constructively engage stakeholders from both sides of the debate; and explore new approaches to conflict management within the International Whaling Commission.

The next meeting of the International Whaling Commission will take place in Anchorage, Alaska, from 28-30 May.

Additional resources

To access the Chair’s summary of the meeting visit http://www.vardagroup.org/whalesymposium/documents/chairssummaryfinal.pdf.

For a full report of the meeting, see IISD Reporting Services at http://www.iisd.ca/ymb/whales/.

ICTSD reporting; “IISD Reporting Services Vol. 137 No. 2,” 16 April 2007.