Ocean Sentry
(From ipsnews.net) Melbourne – Australia is hopeful that its proposal for a new multi-national whale research program — in which whales are not killed — announced at the recent International Whaling Commission meeting in Chile will place considerable pressure on Japan’s controversial whaling programme.
The proposal may go some way in countering recent criticism of the Australian government’s policy on whaling.
But Australia’s proposal has received widespread support. Countries that spoke in its favour at the recent IWC meeting included vociferous anti-whaling nations such the United States, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, while France, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and the host nation, Chile, were among others expressing their support.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd came under fire in June when he and his Japanese counterpart, Yasuo Fukuda, “agreed to disagree” regarding their respective countries views on whaling — despite the government previously threatening legal action against Japan — while the government’s promised whaling envoy is also yet to materialise.
Under the proposal, Australia will host a workshop early next year — open to all scientists and groups interested in participating in the programme — aimed at developing a plan for the research.
Australia and Chile have agreed to establish a steering committee to assist with the workshop’s implementation, with the two nations also looking to extend their collaboration in terms of a plan for conservation management.
“This new collaborative approach offers a new way to conduct whale research and I would urge nations, including Japan, to participate,” said Garrett.
Sea Shepherd has been involved in controversial incidents with the Japanese fleet over the last two seasons in the Southern Ocean, including a collision with a Japanese whaling vessel, the throwing of “stink bombs” onto the decks of whaling ships, and the boarding of a Japanese ship by two of its members.
“If the members of the IWC refuse to act to save the whales, then it is up to us to take this fight onto the high seas,” said Sea Shepherd’s founder and president, Captain Paul Watson.
(By Stephen de Tarczynski)
