The 52nd IWC-meeting, 3-6 July, Adelaide, Australia

High North Web News (5 July 2000): The International Whaling Commission (IWC) today passed two resolutions requesting Japan to stop scientific whaling. However, Japan made it clear that the resolutions would not affect its research program. (more)

CITES slams IWC

High North Web News (5 July 2000): CITES Secretary General accuses IWC for the “escalating and increasingly divisive conflict” within CITES. (more)

Another year passes and the IWC makes no progress on RMS

High North Web News (5 July 2000): As expected, there was no substantial progress on the Revised Management Scheme (RMS) at this year’s IWC-meeting in Adelaide, Australia. (more)

Timetable

Before the actual IWC-meeting takes place 3-6 July, a number of other meetings are also being held:

Scientific Committee, 12-26 June
RMS working group, 28-29 June
Whale killing methods & associated welfare issues, 30 June (am)
Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Committee, 30 June (pm)
Finance & Administration Committee, 1 July (am)
Infractions Sub-committee, 1 July (pm)
Commissioners Meeting, 2 July
52nd annual meeting of the IWC, 3-6 July

Lifting the ban?

The secretary of the IWC, Dr. Ray Gambell, recently said to BBC that the IWC should lift the whaling ban in order to not lose its credibility totally.

The High North Alliance agrees with Dr. Gambell, the IWC has lost a lot of credibility. This view has also been expressed by IUCN – The World Conservation Union (see Trade in minke whales – conservation in action, page 6).

In order to lift the ban, the IWC must finish the observer and control scheme, so that the RMS can be adopted and implemented. Based on the feet-dragging that has taken place in previous years, the High North Alliance doubts that this will happen this year.

South-Pacific Sanctuary

Australia and New Zealand have proposed the adoption of a South-Pacific sanctuary for whales. They consider this as one further step to achieve their ultimate goal of a global whale sanctuary.

The High North Alliance is of the opinion that with the RMS in place there is no need for a sanctuary. The RMS will ensure protection for those whales that are in need.

The IWC-Convention requires that management measures are based on science. We fail to find a scientific justification for a sanctuary when the RMS is adopted. Furthermore, we think it is an insult to the Scientific Committee’s efforts to develop a quota calculation model, as if this model is not sufficiently protective.

In light of the proponents ultimate objective of a global sanctuary, the adoption of a South Pacific sanctuary, might very well mean that the next step is a North-Atlantic sanctuary.

Appointment of new IWC Secretary

Dr Nicola Grandy has been appointed the new Secretary to the IWC. Dr Grandy will attend the meeting in Adelaide, and will take up her post on 14 August 2000.

She replaces Dr Ray Gambell, who has been the Commission’s secretary since the Secretariat was established in 1975.

Election of new chairman and vice-chairman

A new chairman will be elected as Michael Canny from Ireland now completes his three-year office as IWC chairman. This is also the case for the vice-chairman, Bo Fernholm from Sweden. It is expected that Fernholm will replace Canny as chair.