Front pageTwice every month, Whales online selects a significant current event concerning whales and their world. 3 July 2008 The International Whaling Commission advocates exchanges and conservation; details of the 60th annual meetingThe 60th annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), which brought together 81 member countries in Santiago, Chile, came to a close on June 25. Status quo with respects to whaling Nothing has changed with regards to whaling activities; various countries are pursuing their post-whaling-ban activities. These include Iceland, with its recent commercial whaling plan, and Japan, which is pursuing its scientific whaling programmes. Japan actually presented a report on its whaling activities for the first time, recognizing that whaling is one of the factors that has caused changes in the Antarctic ecosystem. Over 1400 whales are killed annually. According to Richard Cowan, approximately 40 percent of these are gestating females. Denmark denied The IWC has voted down a request by indigenous Greenland fishermen who were hoping to kill 10 humpback whales per year. The fishermen proposed that in exchange they would relinquish their right to kill eight fin whales. Copenhagen ensured other members that its position was based on an IWC report stating that the number of humpback whales in Greenland waters has seen an increase in recent years. The delegate from Chile deplored the “return of divisive propositions”, which have paralyzed the Commission for years. This inevitably led to increased tensions at the meeting. In favour of discussions and improved exchanges The IWC has established a 24-member-country working group to make recommendations on a series of themes, coordinate member positions and find an accord on pending issues, such as Japan's proposal to resume commercial whaling and a proposal from Latin American countries for the creation of whale sanctuaries. No date has yet been set for the conclusion of such agreements, but the work group must submit its report to the next meeting of the IWC, which will be held in Madeira, Portugal from May 28 to June 26, 2009 The IWC encouraged approaches based on discussions, negotiations and fruitful exchanges on matters that divide members in order to avoid confrontations. The IWC does not pretend that these discussions will be easy, but insists on the importance of making progress, not only for the future of the organization, but also for the conservation and management of whales. This new orientation was adopted and then employed for the proposition of a Pacific Ocean whale sanctuary; no vote was requested, but the proposition was discussed. Well-being, conservation and research Other topics than whaling were dealt with during the 60th annual meeting of the IWC. A workshop on entanglement in fishing gear was announced. Reports on methods of euthanasia for stranded animals as well as information on killing methods were tabled by different countries. The subject of whale watching came up on the second day of meetings. Mexico also announced the creation of a 60 million dollar recovery fund for the vaquita. This porpoise is the most threatened cetacean in the world with a population of between 100 and 300 animals limited to the Sea of Cortez. Finally, the scientific committee, an international group of 200 biologists mandated by their respective governments, reported that the IWC's Southern Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research (SOWER) programme has been proceeding with research projects in the Antarctic Ocean for 30 years. This research has provided extremely valuable information concerning various species, such as the blue whale and the humpback whale. The Government of Japan provides the vessel and crew. The results of the SOWER programme will soon be included in a dedicated section of the IWC website and a special scientific volume. [IWC, Romandie News] I want to know more On the International Whaling Commission website: Details for The International Whaling Commission's 60th annual meeting in Chile 2008 On Whales Online:
The information has not been verified but comes from reliable sources. The archives of 2008The archives ot past years |