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

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