Both losses and hope for the whales

The 62nd annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission has come to an end. It was a meeting that presented a loss for the humpback whales, but also hope for the future inclusion of animal welfare considerations within the IWC.

Our Give Whales A Voice campaign continues and I will update you on next steps for our fight to end the cruelty of whaling. In the meantime, I want to share this video with you.

Here WSPA International's Marine Mammal Programmes Manager, Joanna Toole, reflects on this year's IWC meeting.

Emily Reeves, WSPA

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.

Tragic day for humpback whales

© Bryant Austin/www.studiocosmos.com

I’ve just watched the IWC buckle under pressure from Denmark and narrowly approve a proposal for Greenland to hunt nine humpback whales a year for the next three years, supposedly for subsistence use.

Despite strong statements of opposition from many governments, acting IWC Chair Anthony Liverpool asked those in opposition not to block this proposal. The 25-strong EU block pledged their support, whilst Australia and numerous Latin American members opposed the highly controversial request.

During the plenary, Australia’s Commissioner Donna Petrachenko stated that any request for Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling must be sustainable and based on genuine needs. And it must meet the criteria for Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling.

But WSPA’s 2008 investigation ‘Exploding Myths’ showed that around a quarter of Greenland’s whaling is commercial in nature and it seems that commercial markets are only increasing.

So yet again we see the IWC trading the lives of sentient beings as if they were merely stock. Greenland last caught humpback whales in 1986 and has provided no convincing evidence of a subsistence need to start catching them again.

These gentle and charismatic humpbacks will suffer immensely when killed - all to end up on supermarket shelves or to satisfy the appetites and curiosities of tourists in luxury restaurants.

Inflicting such immense cruelty in the name of profit is simply unacceptable.

This is a sad day. The IWC is purely about politics, not whales.

Emily Reeves, WSPA

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.

Keeping whale welfare on the agenda

During the official NGO session today (the fourth day of the IWC meeting), Siri Martinsen, Director of NOAH – for dyrs rettigheter, spoke on behalf of NOAH and WSPA member society Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge. One of the key issues she presented was the cruelty of Norwegian whaling, as the recent investigation by WSPA, NOAH and Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge has clearly shown.

Siri told the meeting: “I wish to briefly refer to a film we captured of a Norwegian whale hunt last month. The film shows an experienced whaler trying to hit and kill a whale under perfect weather conditions - and failing to succeed. We have consulted with external veterinarians and based on the footage the most likely scenario is that the whale was indeed struck and lost. The whaling vessel claims that the whale was not hit, but both scenarios illustrate the same main point: whalers shooting a moving animal from a moving platform cannot reliably achieve an accurate lethal harpoon shot. The margins for error in commercial whaling are simply too high, and so is the suffering inflicted.”

As this year’s meeting is nearing its end, everyone at WSPA is relieved that the compromise deal, which would have condemned 13,000 whales to death over the next 10 years, was not adopted and the commercial whaling ban remains intact.

We’ll be using the coming months to prepare for the IWC Animal Welfare and Ethics workshop, proposed yesterday by the UK delegation. And we will be working hard to ensure that governments around the world act to protect whales, not whaling.

Emily Reeves, WSPA

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.

Latin America champions whale watching

During a press conference today we heard that 88 whale watching operators in Latin America have signed a joint statement calling for the IWC to focus on the non-lethal use of whales and to recognise the benefits that a properly managed whale watching industry can bring to communities throughout Latin America.

Roxana Schteinbarg representing an Argentinean Conservation Organisation says it is crucial that tourism operators raise their voices to defend the whales. “Whales migrate beyond our shores and when they leave our coast there is a chance they will be killed by a harpoon. It’s vital that the moratorium is maintained, scientific whaling is stopped and sanctuaries are respected.”

The Dominican Republic has the most valuable whale watching industry in the Caribbean. In one bay alone operators cater for 25,000 tourists a year. “The industry brings great socioeconomic benefits to coastal communities,” says Liliana Betancourt from a Dominican Conservation Centre.

Our WSPA representative in Latin America explains that whale watching in the region is managed in a responsible manner and shows that it is not necessary to cause suffering to these beautiful animals in order to generate financial benefits.

Emily Reeves, WSPA

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.

You don’t have to kill a whale to understand it

Last night I went to a side event hosted by the Australian Government about a truly exciting initiative which has seen a growing number countries come together to research whales in the Southern Ocean – without killing them of course.

The Southern Ocean is close to the hearts of Australians and the Japanese whale hunt that happens there every year is something Australians are completely opposed to.

We know the problem; we know that each year Japan will kill hundreds of whales in the name of ‘science.’ What Garrett presented last night was the solution. Solid research that helps us understand these magnificent creatures without killing them or causing them suffering.

The project is called the Southern Ocean Research Partnership – and it shows what we all know, that you don’t have to kill a whale to understand it.

During a week of discussions about stocks and quotas, last night’s presentation was so refreshing. This is the way forward for whale research! This Australian initiative is progressive, exciting and something that people and countries alike should support.

Makes you proud to be an Aussie.

Emily Reeves, WSPA

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.

Whale welfare put on the table at the IWC

 

© iStockphoto.com/Brett Atkins

Some good news regarding whale welfare on the third day here at the IWC – a proposal by the UK to host an animal welfare and ethics workshop has been met with overwhelming support from 11 countries.

This is a great opportunity to seriously address the fundamental welfare problems of commercial whaling. The workshop will give the IWC much needed information on international animal welfare science and policies, and help delegates to make enlightened and progressive decisions on the issue.

The UK proposal was supported by Australia, as well as Belgium, Argentina, New Zealand, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Costa Rica, India and Brazil.

It’s great to see another country speak out for the welfare of whales. WSPA is looking forward to working alongside the UK to ensure the workshop is a success - both for the IWC and for whales.

Emily Reeves, WSPA

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.

Whales have been granted a reprieve

After two days and more than 30 closed door meetings, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) acknowledged that no consensus will be reached at this meeting on a proposal which threatened to legitimise commercial whaling.

NGOs and the media filed into the meeting room this morning to hear that no deal had been reached. This of course was no surprise to anyone.

The first couple of hours saw country delegates stating one by one their position on the future of the IWC, some offering suggestions on how the IWC could build on the positive foundations which had been laid during the last two years. All agreed that the culture of the IWC had changed. The whaling and conservation countries are now talking and although not necessarily agreeing there seemed to be a willingness to transform the IWC into a fully functioning body.

Minister Garrett spoke early in the session representing very clearly the views of so many Australians – that we must close the door on the proposal which would legitimise commercial whaling.

Several other countries, including Monaco, Costa Rica and Germany, put forward alternative suggestions that included “non-lethal” use of whales such as whale watching.

Minister Garrett acknowledged that there are serious issues but that the IWC still stands as the primary body for the conservation and management of cetaceans. He called on the IWC to find the same strength that led to the creation of the moratorium and stressed that the IWC must move towards being a modern conservation focussed organisation.

Australians can feel confident that our views were heard loud and clear in this year’s IWC meeting.

While we are sorry to hear that no compromise could be reached that would put an end to commercial whaling, WSPA is happy that the whales have been given a reprieve. We are urging the IWC member states to use any “cooling period” to consider the inherent cruelty of whaling and work toward not only maintaining but strengthening the whaling ban.

WSPA will attempt to work with the non-whaling nations to make sure that whales – not whaling – become the future of the IWC.

Emily Reeves, WSPA

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.

WSPA and Australians Give Whales A Voice at the IWC

Today we delivered the Give Whales A Voice speech, made from the voices of the thousands of Australians who recorded their word, to a packed press conference at the IWC here in Agadir.

The speech, which received a resounding applause, showed that Australians are resolutely opposed to whaling because it is - and always will be - inherently cruel.

Over the last twenty years the whaling nations have met with global condemnation for flouting the ban on whaling and killing over 25,000 whales. But the compromise currently being discussed behind closed doors by the IWC could see 13,000 more whales killed in the next ten years.

For us, one whale killed is one too many because whaling cannot be done humanely. The footage we also showed at the press conference reinforced this message. From a recent investigation conducted by WSPA, the Norwegian Society for the Protection of Animals and Noah, the video highlighted the welfare problems inherent in the whaling industry.

There is no humane way to kill a whale at sea. A whale that is harpooned suffers a slow and painful death at the hands of whalers. WSPA’s message to the IWC is that voting in favour of the compromise proposal is legitimising whaling and the suffering it causes.

WSPA is supporting the Australian Government’s proposal for a phase out of whaling, including whaling carried out by Japan under the guise of ‘scientific research. Through Give Whales a Voice we’re standing behind the Government in calling for a future for the IWC that is about achieving true whale protection.

Here's the video of the Give Whales A Voice speech again for those of you who haven't seen it!

Emily Reeves, WSPA

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.

Australians Give Whales A Voice at the IWC

This speech, created using the thousands of voices recorded for our Give Whales A Voice campaign, tells IWC members from around the world that whaling is inherently cruel and must be stopped.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped us to make this possible.
We'll send more news from the WSPA press conference at the IWC later today.

Emily Reeves, WSPA Australia

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.

Working to end whaling in Norway

I'm meeting some fascinating people here in Agadir - including Tanya Schumacher, from the Norwegian Society for the Protection of Animals. Tanya is an Aussie vet, who grew up in the Northern Territory, but moved to Norway for love. She's now sharing her passion for animals through her work at the NSPA. I can't even imagine how tough it is for these guys - trying desperately to have their voices heard in a country that actually takes great pride in its commercial whaling industry.

WSPA, NSPA and NOAH recently released footage of Norwegian whaling that highlights why the IWC simply cannot consider putting an end to the whaling ban.

Sami Lukis

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.

Whales' lives to be traded in secret

It's now been confirmed that the IWC will be conducting its meeting behind closed doors. This is the WSPA official response to the decision:

"WSPA is extremely disappointed by the IWC's complete lack of transparency during the negotiation process when it today chose to run the next day and a half of meetings behind closed doors. The outcome could see 88 member goverments agreeing to the inhumane slaughter of up to 13000 whales a year for the next 10 years.

"NGOs are here trying to represent the view of millions of people worldwide who are opposed to commercial whaling and do not want to see this inherently cruel practice legitimised. For the IWC to exclude civil society in this manner, especially with no prior warning, is completely unacceptable.

"Whales are not political pawns, whose lives are to be traded in secret - these are sentient animals that can take over an hour to die when hunted. It is wholly unacceptable that their fate now depends on decisions made behind closed doors, while civil society and the media are obstructed from observing.

"WSPA is strongly urging the IWC to listen to the hundreds of thousands of people from around the world who, in the weeks leading up to this year's meeting, have made it clear that commercial whaling should be permenantely consigned to the history books."

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.

The IWC plans to shut door on media and NGOs

The IWC has just opened in Agadir in Morocco. To our disappointment the revised adgenda handed to us as we entered the meeting states that it will adjourn later this morning for the remainder of today and tomorrow to allow governments to conduct private closed door meetings. This last minute change in the agenda locks organisations like WSPA, along with the world's media, out of discussions about the proposal which could legitimise the cruel slaughter of thousands of whales.

We'll keep you updated as we hear more.

Emily Reeves

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.

Day 1 - IWC Sunday 20th June

Today I arrived in the seaside town of Agadir, on the west coast of Morocco, after a 42 hour journey from Sydney. This week, it plays host to people from all over the globe, who have come here to discuss the future of whaling.

It was great to meet the WSPA reps from the UK and New Zealand. At dinner I also met the WSPA reps from Costa Rica and Norway. This once again reminded me that this is a truly international issue, which is of great concern to people all over the world.

I had a fascinating chat to the Norwegian Society for the Protection of Animals. They say the whaling industry in Norway is very content to stay hidden in the shadow of Japan. And why wouldn't they be? Japan continues to take the media spotlight and most of the heat, while Norway can continue slaughtering innocent whales, with very little attention or condemnation.

The big topic of discussion at dinner was the alarming rumour that has been circulating today. It’s believed the plenary will open tomorrow as normal, but then the delegates will move into closed door meetings from 11am ... where they will and stay until Wednesday! This has all of the NGOs (non-government organisations) extremely worried - because that would mean we won’t be able to hear what’s being discussed.

Although we don't have any information about their agenda; we understand it will possibly focus on a compromise deal to phase out whaling in the Southern Ocean over a ten year period. If this is only directed at Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean, the concern is that higher quotas may be given to the other two whaling nations.

We won't know anything more until tomorrow. If they do go into closed door meetings, we'll just have to sit tight and hope for any snippets of information we can get from any of the delegates - until they all re-emerge on Wednesday. I'll let you know ...

Sami Lukis

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.

On our way to the IWC

Only a few hours until I jump on that plane for Morocco. In my role as ambassador for the Give Whales A Voice campaign, I look forward to taking the voices of Australians opposed to whaling to the IWC, where the future of whales will be discussed over the next week.

I'm so proud and so honoured to have this opportunity to join the fabulous people of WSPA at the IWC. We will spend the next week attending seminars and press conferences and making sure the Australian position against whaling is clear. And you can read all about it through my regular updates here.

This year, it's more important than ever, that our voices are heard at the IWC. For the first time in two decades, the IWC will be seriously considering a compromise deal, which would legalise commercial whaling and overturn the 20 year ban on whaling. We cannot let this happen - because there is no humane way to kill a whale. It's a disgusting, inhumane, horrific act. These beautiful animals are suffering.

It’s not too late to add your support to WSPA’s campaign, if you haven’t done this already. It will only take one minute of your time today to speak out against whaling and Give Whales A Voice. We’re taking these Australian voices to Morocco in a speech we're presenting at the IWC. I'll be there in person and I promise your voices will be heard!

Thank you so much for your support.
Sami Lukis

You can help to Give Whales A Voice today! Together anything is possible.