Ocean Sentry
(From shm) An international meeting on whaling in Chile is one of “the most respectful in years”, Japan says, but will still go ahead with its so-called scientific killing of 900 whales this season.
Japan”s Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) said the third day of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Santiago had seen a big change in the organisation.
“In the past it was disrespectful. There is a lot more listening at this meeting, that is for sure,” said the ICR’s Glenn Inwood.
“Generally all parties are making a real effort to work together and let’s hope that this flows through to the next 12 months,” he said.
The IWC meeting voted for a new system that will see 24 key countries try to reach a consensus during the next year on controversial topics including scientific whaling programs, generally avoiding divisive votes.
Inwood said despite the change, hailed as a breakthrough by Australia and New Zealand, it was business as usual for Japan’s scientific whaling program.
Japan uses a loophole in the 1986 moratorium on whaling to kill hundreds of the giant mammals each year, claiming the hunt is needed for scientific research.
Much of the meat from the slaughtered whales ends up being sold as food, leading to the view that it is commercial whaling in disguise.
“The whole point of Article 8 research whaling is that it is outside the scope of the IWC,” Inwood said.
“It (the hunt’s quota) will be the same as last year, 850 minke whales and 50 fin whales,” he said.
