01/04/2005 - Australia
has reiterated its position to oppose any
introduction of a Revised Management Scheme
(RMS) for whaling, at a meeting of the RMS
Working Group of the International Whaling
Commission (IWC) in Copenhagen.
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Senator Ian Campbell has sent a clear message
that Australia will continue to fight any
move that would allow a return to full scale
whaling.
"There is no place for a return to the
bad old days," Senator Campbell said.
"The continued exploitation of the so-called
scientific whaling loophole in the whaling
convention is an outrage. Australia will continue
to call for the removal of this loophole.
"The killing of hundreds of minke whales
in the Southern Ocean through so-called scientific
whaling is of great concern given that the
IWC's scientific committee has no agreed abundance
estimate for the species.
"The important information we need on
whales in this region are estimates of how
many whales there are and how these populations
are distributed. All this information is best
collected non-lethally from surveys and biopsy
samples.
Senator Campbell dismissed new claims this
week by the Japanese Institute of Cetacean
Research regarding changes in whale populations.
"There are no agreed estimates on the
abundance of fin whales or minke whales and
claims by Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research
concerning major shifts in whale populations
are not supported by the IWC Scientific Committee,"
he said.
During the last year, Japan took more than
800 whales from across the world's oceans,
including more than 500 minke whales, some
50 Brydes, 50 sei and 10 sperm whales.
"I hold grave fears that a new and increased
whaling program will commence in the Southern
Ocean next year. Australia will continue to
make representations to IWC members seeking
a halt to lethal whaling programs," Senator
Campbell said.
A Revised Management Scheme proposal – under
which commercial whaling could be reintroduced
– is being developed for consideration and
possible adoption by the IWC when it meets
in Ulsan, Korea in June this year.
"Adoption of the RMS could pave the
way for the lifting of the current moratorium
on commercial whaling and a return to full-scale
whaling under the management of the IWC in
addition to scientific whaling.
"For the RMS to be adopted there needs
to be agreement of three quarters of IWC members.
We need to ensure conservation minded members
continue to hold the line against the return
to commercial whaling."
Senator Campbell said he would hold discussions
with like-minded New Zealand on the issues.
He will also be holding meetings in Washington
later in April and continue to lobby other
nations, seeking support for Australia's position.
"Australia remains convinced that the
best precautionary mechanism to ensure the
recovery of whale populations is the global
moratorium on commercial whaling.
"Australia is participating in the discussions
of the RMS to ensure that those who would
introduce an RMS are aware of world's best
practice for all the elements of the RMS package.
"To date we have not seen anything to
indicate that current proposals for the RMS
meet that mark."
