(JP/NW) PCB talks vital to Norway whale exports

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http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20020801b6.htm

 

BLUBBER MAY BE 'MONTHS' AWAY

PCB talks vital to Norway whale exports

 

LONDON (Kyodo) Norway said Tuesday that more

scientific discussions with Japan are needed over the

measurement of contaminants in whale products before

the countries can start trading in whale meat and

blubber.

 

Johan Williams, director general of the department of

marine resources and the environment at the Norwegian

Fisheries Ministry, said scientists and officials will

meet in Japan within the next few months to discuss

the issue.

 

Speaking over the phone from Oslo, Williams said that

while the new round of negotiations would delay the

launch of exports from Norway to Japan, he remained

optimistic.

 

" Time-wise, this is a hurdle, but we believe that when

we go though all these exercises, we will be able to

provide Japan with meat and blubber, " he said.

 

He added, however, that " it will take months " before

the first shipment of whale meat goes to Japan.

 

According to Williams, Japanese officials told their

Norwegian counterparts at a meeting in Oslo on Tuesday

that tests conducted on a small sample of Norwegian

blubber showed that the toxic polychlorinated biphenyl

concentration was higher than that permitted by

Japanese health authorities.

 

Williams said the PCB results from Japan were not so

different from those taken in Norway, but officials

will need to compare measurement-taking methods to

give the Japanese faith in Norway's exports and PCB

measurements.

 

He said the PCB-measuring process is different in

Japan and Norway, and officials are trying to come up

with a common standard.

 

" We have to look at whether this (higher PCB level) is

due to the Japanese testing methods or whether there

may be higher concentrations of PCB in certain parts

of the blubber than in other areas, " he said.

 

" It's important that the tests are calibrated. "

 

Williams said the meeting in Oslo was " very nice. "

Both sides, he said, agreed their tests on the DNA of

whale products came up with similar results, were

therefore compatible and are no longer an issue

between the two sides.

 

A number of samples of red whale meat will soon be

sent to Japan for PCB and mercury content tests, but

Williams said he is confident there won't be any

problems.

 

Officials from both countries rounded off their

one-day meeting with dinner at a Japanese restaurant,

including whale meat.

 

Norway is eager to start exporting whale products to

Japan, which it sees as a lucrative market. Blubber, a

delicacy, appears particularly attractive.

 

Last week, Norway exported whale meat to Iceland for

the first time since 1988.

 

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered

Species outlaws trade in minke whale products.

 

Both Norway and Japan have lodged reservations against

the listing of minkes in the convention, thereby

allowing the trade to proceed legally.

 

Norway claims its whaling is based on the principle of

sustainable resource management.

 

The Japan Times: Aug. 1, 2002

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