(BV 28-06-10) The future of whales is still threaten. The people in charge of the IWC have not been able to reach an agreement and the debate regarding the moratorium on the commercial whaling is still unknown. Japan, Norway and Iceland will continue fishing these endangered animals.
It is estimated that these three countries together have captured more than 30,000 specimens since the ban in 1986. Scientists and ecological organizations have denounced the serious situation of these mammals and they assure that there are no excuses to lift the moratorium.
The IWC joined in Agadir (Morocco) the representatives of their 88 member countries. Among other, they debated the proposal of their president, Cristian Maquieira, to legalize a number of captures provided they meet strictly the rules of this institution. However, they have not reached an agreement and the decision has been put off to 2011.
Commercial whaling is banned since 1986. But, in practice, three countries keep doing it: Japan, Iceland and Norway. The two first are taking advantage of article 8 of the convention, which offers the possibility to catch whales “for scientific purposes”.
Japan catches half the whales allowed, but ecological organizations like WWF assure that about 1,500 cetaceans are being captured every year out of the control of the IWC. Norway broke the moratorium in 1993 and is the only country hunting whales with commercial purposes. It is estimated that these three countries together have caught more than 33,000 specimens.
Maqueira’s purpose has not been well received of most of the IWC scientific committee. A group of over 200 experts has send a request to this organization to keep the moratorium.
SIX SPECIES “CRITICALLY ENDANGERED”
Data about population of species all over the World indicate their serious situation, and so researchers assure that no concession can be made. It is estimated that six of the 86 species of cetacean recognized by scientists are “critically endangered”. Other nine are considered “threatened”, six “vulnerable” and many local and regional populations are severely depleted, and other species we do not have information about could be in a serious situation too.
During the meeting it has been known that Russia has refused to stop offshore oil exploration around the island Shakalin, north Siberia. It is here where the western grey whale lives, and there are only 26 breeding females. Japan is in favour of some little concessions, but none in the Antarctic. In this area, considered the Whale Sanctuary, commercial whaling is banned since 1994.
Japanese members talk about the “sustainable use” of whaling for consumption in their country. However, statistics published by Japanese newspapers say that only 4% of the citizens eat this kind of meat. WWF considers this “sustainable use” could be reached through tourism, such as whale watching, which generates greater profits for coastal communities.
Group Whalewatch says that the practices to kill these creatures they can leave them dying for a period between 2 minutes and some hours. The IFAW says that more than 80% of whales do not die when they are harpooned due to due to the inability of hunters.
WWF has also remind that even if a real prohibition of hunting big whales was reached, whalers could focus their efforts to kill small cetaceans like dolphins or porpoises. After the moratorium in 1986 the number of deaths of the Dall porpoise quadrupled in Japan.
