Japan seeks commercial whaling OK

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3907927.stm

 

Last Updated: Monday, 19 July, 2004, 16:48 GMT 17:48

UK

 

Japan seeks commercial whaling OK

 

By Alex Kirby

BBC News Online environment correspondent, in

Sorrento, Italy

 

Japan has asked the International Whaling Commission

to let it restart the commercial hunting of whales.

It wants to kill almost 3,000 Antarctic minkes, nearly

five times its current annual catch for scientific

research.

 

But BBC News Online has learnt the move is a stratagem

designed simply to discredit the IWC, which is certain

to reject the proposal.

 

The meeting is split between a dwindling anti-whaling

majority and a growing whaling group, led by Japan.

 

Tokyo has respected the moratorium on commercial

whaling agreed by the IWC since it came into effect in

1986.

 

Commission's purpose

 

It now says it wants to catch 2,914 minkes, the

smallest of the great whales at about 10m long at

maturity.

 

A statement by Japan's Fisheries Agency said this

proposed annual quota represented less than 0.05% of

the Antarctic minke population, which the IWC

scientific committee estimated in 1990 at 760,000

animals.

 

The committee is working to update this estimate. The

leader of Japan's delegation at the IWC, Mr Minoru

Morimoto, said: " Minke whales are extremely abundant

in the Southern Ocean - the population will be able to

fully sustain the proposed quota and at the same time

maintain its current healthy abundance levels. "

 

He said part of the profit would be put towards " the

welfare of the world's people " and the rational use

and management of global whale resources.

 

In a telling passage, he said: " The IWC was developed

to establish the commercial whaling industry. The

resumption of sustainable whaling in the Antarctic

will validate the continuing existence of the IWC... "

 

 

Mr Morimoto did not add that many IWC members - still

a majority, if only just - want the commission to

conserve whales, not the whaling it was established to

protect.

 

Threatened walk

 

The proposal for a commercial catch flies in the face

of Japan's policy down the years.

 

Although it catches not only minke but sei, Bryde's

and sperm whales in the Antarctic and the North

Pacific, it does so in the name of research, which the

IWC's rules allow.

 

It has never until now suggested that it would

contemplate a resumption of commercial hunting.

 

One source told BBC News Online: " Japan knows

perfectly well the commission won't accept its

proposal, and it has no intention of starting

commercial whaling again.

 

This is all about showing that the IWC doesn't work,

to strengthen Japan's hand in preparing to walk out. "

 

Secret ballots

 

In his opening statement to the meeting, Mr Morimoto

said the general public and parliamentarians had " come

to the end of their patience " with the IWC, and

another member of the delegation told BBC News Online

Japan would withdraw in 2006 if it were still

dissatisfied.

 

It says it will continue its scientific whaling in the

Antarctic and increase its catches in the North

Pacific.

 

Norway says it plans to increase its annual commercial

catch of 6-700 North Atlantic minke whales, possibly

to 1,800 animals, by 2008. Because it objected to the

moratorium when it was agreed, Norway is not bound by

it.

 

Japan came close on Monday to making sure IWC votes

were taken through secret ballots. It claimed this

would protect smaller nations on the commission from

economic and political pressure from anti-whaling

countries and organisations.

 

The move was defeated by 29 votes to 24.