Japan demand resumption of commercial whaling

May 20, 2002

The International Whaling Commission has opened its

annual conference.

Host Japan began the meeting with a call to allow the

resumption of commercial whaling.

But it is still unclear whether delegates will even

vote on commercial whaling this year.

" I sincerely hope that this meeting will induce IWC

member nations to not make exceptions of whales and to

regard them in the same light as other living marine

resources, " Japanese agriculture and fisheries

minister Tsutomu Takebe said.

Japan wants the IWC to lift its global ban on

commercial whaling during the session in the seaside

city of Shimonoseki, once the base for a thriving

whale trade.

Only a simple majority is needed for approval of most

issues that go to an IWC vote. But any important

ballot - including the question of whether to lift the

1986 moratorium on commercial whaling - would require

a three-fourths majority.

Earlier, anti-whaling countries accused Japan of using

research whaling hunts to support its position that

whale numbers are growing too fast and threatening

fish stocks.

" We ask Japan and others to stop spreading false

claims, " US delegation leader Rolland Schmitt said,

adding that " the real reason for the decline is

overfishing, not whales " .

Mr Schmitt was supported by representatives from

Britain, New Zealand, Mexico and Brazil, who urged

Japan to stop its research hunts.

Story filed: 04:42 Monday 20th May 2002

LAUNCH - Your Music Experience

Recommended Posts