Press Release: Controversial whaling proposal fails at global meeting « International Fund for Animal Welfare: Whale Division

Press Release: Controversial whaling proposal fails at global meeting

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Posted on June 23rd, 2010

In Featured Articles, International Whaling Commission, Press Releases,

(Agadir, Morocco – 23 June 2010) – The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW – www.ifaw.org) announced today that a controversial proposal to legalize whaling has failed at the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Agadir, Morocco.

“Under a cloud of corruption allegations the IWC is taking a safe course, opting for a cooling off period that protects the moratorium and other IWC conservation measures,” said Patrick Ramage, Director of IFAW’s Global Whale Campaign. “Had it been done here, this deal would have lived in infamy.”

The proposal, three years in the making, proposed a compromise between whaling and non-whaling nations which regularly clash at annual IWC meetings. Among the most hotly debated components of the proposal was a plan to overturn the worldwide ban on whaling, in place since 1986, by allowing legalized hunting of whales by Iceland, Norway, and Japan – the last three countries still hunting whales commercially. Japan, Norway, and Iceland have illegally killed nearly 35,000 whales since the inception of the moratorium.

“This was an intense three year effort but one conducted behind closed doors and focused on defining terms under which commercial whaling would continue rather than how it would end,” said Ramage. “The proposal it produced could not withstand public scrutiny and ignored the overwhelming global support for permanent protection for whales. Any future process of negotiation should not leave the views, expertise, and perspective of the global NGO community sitting outside.”

Contact: Chris Cutter, IFAW, (508) 737-4623, ccutter@ifaw.org

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90 Responses to “Press Release: Controversial whaling proposal fails at global meeting”

Kath says:

June 29, 2010 at 5:36 am

I am truly delighted that the Whaling ban has not been over-turned. Now if only we could make Japan, Norway and Iceland see sence and STOP THE SLAUGHTER OF WHALES ONCE AND FOR ALL it would be the happiest day of my life.

There should be harsher penalties for those Nations who continue to defy the Ban and hunt these Majestic Animals.

Reply
Rohit Kushwaha says:

June 28, 2010 at 10:48 pm

We must stop Whale hunting completely, legely it should be banned to all the countries. We have to take further steps to resolve this issue.

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April says:

June 28, 2010 at 5:16 pm

Sebastian, I am sorry that people have made you bitter with there choices in life, but it does not change the need to respond and correct them. You have to be bigger than them by doing the right thing; be the person of example they never had. Your smart enough.

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Delara says:

June 26, 2010 at 2:20 pm

I believe that whales is very important to balance our planet.
They are the biggest animal living under water, just as elephants are at land.
These animals are so important as their “singing” (we can not hear that) heals and balances the world, without them there will be more disasters of nature…
And ofcourse they need to be protected by intelligent people as they do not have rights as animals…
May the evolution of this planet go forward to a healthy world and a much more equal planet for every living creature!

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ginkgomania says:

June 26, 2010 at 10:02 am

every friday @ 9 there is a show called whale wars, where the sea shepherds go to the arctic to stop the japanese hunting whales. they really do combat the whaling fleet

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Benhanan Gast says:

June 25, 2010 at 2:30 pm

I agree with everybody who says stop whale huntig , the most effective treatment is , let the hunter pay.

Bengana Gast

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sza says:

June 24, 2010 at 11:05 pm

@hazel just like BP getting away with possibly destroying the whole planet. i don’t know why but obviously some companies and entities just get away with everything, looks like the laws are only made for the “little” people

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Cynthia Diamond says:

June 24, 2010 at 9:02 pm

I couldn’t agree more with Penny, Hazel and Scott. There DOES need to be MUCH higher fines for countries that break the no whaling law. Why in the world would countries like Japan, Norway and Iceland need to hunt whales? It can only be that the bored, degenerate “jet set” has decided whale meat, blubber, etc. is in some way “fashionable” and it is the “in” thing to eat whale meat. They disgust me, just as some ignorant, uninformed people think the gastric juices from Sun Bears is good for sexual performance. Let us lobby for much higher fines and see if that might be a detriment.

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- Sebastian says:
  
  June 26, 2010 at 4:01 am
  
  Whaling can be legal. That’s why you can’t fine countries such as United States, Russia, Norway and Iceland for whaling.
  
  It’s people like you and your cultural imperialism that make whale meat “fashionable”. I’ll grab an extra whale steak to prove my point. Yummy!
  
  Reply
Penny O'Neill says:

June 24, 2010 at 4:26 pm

I agree with Hazel’s comments. I also put all this on Facebook. I would very much like to know how these new “laws” will actually be enforced. If you watch Whale Wars on cable(or tv) you will see what these courageous people go up against year after year with little to do it with- yes, they have 3 boats, 2 larger ones along with this incredible “stealth” boat- unreal to look at……but all they can do is entangle the ships with lines, throw foul smelling “stuff” onboard their killing ships(the Japanese), etc. They do a magnificent job in Antartica slowing down the Japanese fleet, but there are still whales that die by harpoon. The Japanese say it is for “science.” Sure!!!! How many of you have seen the blood in the water after a whale has been harpooned? It is horrible to see that and the scream that goes with it makes me physically ill.
Please, let’s all pull together to stop this slaughter by countries who just do not need to do this…it is for supersticion(sp?) only- good for men, etc. Know what I mean??
And to the other person talking about “natives” needing whale blubber, etc. This is 2010 my friend- not needed anymore!!!!! There is NO excuse. NONE. Sort of like BP has none either. (sorry, had to get that in!)
Enforce this law- enforce this law- enforce this law!!!

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- Whalelvr says:
  
  June 24, 2010 at 4:32 pm
  
  You are right that BP has no excuse.
  
  One slight correction, it’s not a law. They exploit a loophole in poorly worded international agreements. So I guess Japan has an excuse, sort of.
  
  What sickens me is the time, effort and money this takes away from much bigger threats to our environment and the animals within. BP will probably have killed more whales than Japan ever has but do we attack them at International meetings. No. We could be putting resources into addressing real threats.
  
  Reply
  - Hotpants says:
    
    June 24, 2010 at 4:33 pm
    
    When Greenland melts away whales will be the last thing we’re thinking about.
    
    Reply
  - Corinne says:
    
    July 27, 2010 at 4:35 pm
    
    As shown in the TV documentary “Whales Wars” the Japanese slaughter whales under the guise of research. I don’t think there is any excuse for slaughtering huge numbers of whales or any specie.
    
    We may have more immediate threats or more visable threats but considering that our ecology is all linked and the detrimental effect to one specie has consequence for every specie it is of importance that all slaughter and pollution be addressed. Some people are more inclined to relate to one area than another and so I consider activity in any area to be a necessary contribution. Thank you.
    
    Reply
servais says:

June 24, 2010 at 2:33 pm

please

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poemshrike says:

June 24, 2010 at 1:03 pm

Why would anyone in this day in age need to kill a whale? The possible exception
being natives who depend on whale for food and other vital supplies for their existance. I’m glad it got defeated!!!

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Hazel Lewry says:

June 24, 2010 at 10:27 am

So, as punishment for breaking the rules of the whaling ban, how exactly have Norway, Japan and Iceland been punished?

This should be some king of international law which can be upheld and prosecuted in international courts. Any countries found guilty of breaking the law should fined up to 1% of GDP. Perhaps kicking them in the wallet will make them listen and understand a little bit better.

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- Scott A. says:
  
  June 24, 2010 at 2:59 pm
  
  You are indeed correct Hazel. It’s all about increasing the width of one’s pocketbook. And as with most enviro laws it is often cheaper to violate and pay fines as opposed to following the rules. Bigger fines are definitely in order for many circumstances and in the case of whaling the IWC needs an overhall as…
  
  “Comments, strong words and resolutions are not enough of an incentive for some nations to refrain from sinking a harpoon into the side of a fleeing whale.”
  
  Reply