Whale protection in the South Atlantic: Narrowly failed
Supporters and opponents of whaling face off at a specialist conference in Peru. Each side scores points. The EU manages at least to send a strong signal against the hunting of whales.
At the International Whaling Commission (IWC) conference in Lima, the establishment of a new whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic narrowly failed.
The proposal put forward by Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay missed the required two-thirds majority at the meeting in the Peruvian capital by a single vote.
«What a missed opportunity. A single vote could have made a difference for dozens of whale species in the South Atlantic,» said Nicolas Entrup of the environmental organisation Ocean Care. «For more than 20 years, the South American member states of the IWC have been trying to establish a much-needed whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic, but it has never been this close.»
Proposals by the whaling lobby to lift the whaling moratorium in place since 1986 and to recognise what they consider the important contribution of whaling to food security were withdrawn due to lack of support. The resolution introduced by the European Union to strengthen the whaling ban was, however, adopted.
Animal welfare advocates welcome the resolution as a success
Currently, only Japan, Norway and Iceland still engage in commercial whaling. «This is the first resolution in more than 20 years that condemns the commercial whaling of Japan, Norway and Iceland and reminds them of their obligations under international maritime law,» said Sandra Altherr of the conservation organisation Pro Wildlife.
The environmental organisation Greenpeace also welcomed the resolution. «It is important and good news that the IWC has today reaffirmed the moratorium on commercial whaling with a broad majority. At the same time, it is tedious to have to keep defending what was decided long ago, while whales and the oceans as a whole are facing growing threats today,» said Greenpeace expert Franziska Saalmann.
«Whales play a central role in marine ecosystems and urgently need better protection – from commercial hunters, but also from bycatch, the climate crisis, and the looming start of deep-sea mining.»
