3 April 2006 - Australia will
host an inter-sessional meeting of the Scientific
Committee of the International Whaling Commission
(IWC) as it reviews populations of southern hemisphere
humpback whales, the Minister for the Environment
and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell said today.
“It is very important that we have the very best
science available on whale populations and their
interactions and behaviours in order to understand
the extent of their recovery from industrial whaling,”
Senator Campbell said.
“Humpback whales were driven to near extinction
during legal and subsequent illegal commercial
whaling.
“Fortunately since a moratorium on commercial
whaling came into effect in 1986 we are seeing
signs that some of our coastal populations are
recovering.
“However not all southern hemisphere whale populations
are recovering to the same degree and some Pacific
populations remain very small and vulnerable.
That is why this workshop is very important.
The week-long workshop, being held at the Australian
Government’s Antarctic Division in Hobart, is
part of a long and exacting review of populations
of southern hemisphere humpback whales.
Last year’s IWC meeting in Ulsan, Korea, agreed
that an inter-sessional workshop undertake further
work on a comprehensive assessment of the whales
in preparation for the next IWC meeting to be
held in St Kitts and Nevis in June.
More than 30 scientists from Australia, Brazil,
Equador, Japan, New Caledonia, New Zealand, South
Africa, Tahiti, the UK and USA are taking part
in the workshop.
“Most Australians share a deep affection for whales,
particularly humpbacks and the last thing we want
to see is this magnificent creature disappear
from our waters once again,” Senator Campbell
said.
“The Australian Government is strongly opposed
to all forms of scientific and commercial whaling
and remains firmly committed to development of
non-lethal scientific research that will increase
our understanding of whales and their environment.
Senator Campbell said that scientists would be
sharing and comparing the best available data
on the abundance, population structure and status
of southern hemisphere humpback whale breeding
populations and their relationship to feeding
grounds in the Southern Ocean.
“The results generated at this week’s gathering
will have relevance beyond the IWC, informing
on the conservation management of whale populations
for all those who valued the recovery of this
threatened species,” Senator Campbell said.
