Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus
House of Representatives:
Bill Brewster, (D-OK), Co-Chairman
Don Young, (R-AK), Co-Chairman
Toby Roth, (R-W), Secretary
Pete Green, (D-Tx), Treasurer
Senate:
Conrad Burns (R-MT), Chairman
Richard C. Selby, (D-AL) Vice Chairman
Larry E. Craig (R-ID) Secretary/Treasurer
July 12, 1993
The Honorable Ronald H. Brown
Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Commerce
15th Street & Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20230
Dear Mr. Secretary:
It has been brought to our attention that the recent meeting
of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Kyoto, Japan,
scientific evidence was presented by the Scientific Committee
of the IWC that limited resumption of harvesting minke whales
was justified. It is our further understanding that those
nations who seek to resume such a limited harvest intend to
use the meat as a food source as they have traditionally done
for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
It has been reported that the U.S. Commissioner to the IWC
stated to the Delegates that regardless of the scientific
evidence supporting the limited resumption of harvesting, or
the reasons therefore, the U.S. would oppose it because of
"no support among the American public or the U.S. Congress for
the resumption of commercial whaling".
Science is the fundamental basis of professional and
reasonable wildlife management that does include consumptive
use of renewable wildlife resources. The U.S. should never
base its domestic or international wildlife management
pronouncements based upon perceived public opinion or, in this
case, supposed Congressional opinion. Clearly, when
moratoriums on the harvesting of wildlife are scientifically
justified, they should be rigidly enforced and supported.
However, when that same standard supports limited and
controlled harvest, it should be supported and those nations
who choose to do so be permitted without fear of criticism or
trade sanctions.
We would sincerely appreciate your comment on what we perceive
to be a most dangerous precedent of basing official wildlife
management policy justified by perceived public and
Congressional opinion.
Sincerely,
Bill Brewster
M.C. sign.
Don Young
M.C. sign.
Conrad Burns
M.C. sign.
The Secretary of Commerce September 9, 1993
Washington, D.C. 20230
The Honorable Bill Brewster
Co-Chairman, Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus
1730 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
Dear Bill:
Thank you for your cosigned letter regarding the
Administration's policy toward the moratorium on commercial
whaling. I agree that science is the fundamental basis of
professional and reasonable wildlife management. However,
scientific advice, while essential, is not the only factor
which should be considered in managing resources. Other
factors, such as cultural traditions, are also important.
Science only tells us whether an activity can proceed without
harming a resource. It provides on information whether the
activity should proceed. Particularly with regard to marine
mammals, the international practice, as agreed at both the
U.N. Conference on the Law of the Sea and the U.N. Conference
on Environment and Development, is that a species may be
managed more strictly than might be scientifically justified.
Congressional opinion regarding whaling seems quite clear. H.
Con. Res. 34, which stated that "the United States should
remain opposed to any resumption of commercial whaling," was
adopted unanimously by both the House and the Senate this
year. The Administration's policy is consonant with this view.
I appreciate your interest in this matter.
Sincerely
Ronald H. Brown
Sign. Congressional Sportsmen's Causus
House of Representatives Senate
Bill Brewster (D-OK) Conrad Burns (R-
MT)
Co-chairman Chairman
Dan Young (R-AK) Richard C. Shelby
(D-AL)
Co-chairman Vice chairman
Toby Roth (R-WI) Larry E. Craig
(R-ID)
Secretary Secretary/
Treasurer
Pete Geren (D-TX)
Treasurer September 24, 1993
The Honorable Ronald H. Brown
Secretary of Commerce
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, DC 20230
Dear Mr. Secretary:
Thank you for your letter of September 9, 1993 regarding the
Administration's policy on commercial whaling, and more
particularly, the issue of Norway's decision to conduct a
limited harvest of Minke whales pursuant to the tenets of the
International Whaling Commission (IWC) and in compliance and
accordance with the recommendations of the Scientific
Committee of the IWC.
There are two points raised in your correspondence that should
be clarified for accuracy.
Although it is generally recognized that "a species may be
managed more strictly than might be scientifically justified,"
the UN Conferences on the Law of the Sea have adopted the
basic notion that marine resources should be managed to secure
maximum supply of food and other marine products based,
appropriately, upon "Scientific findings."
As to the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development, the
text specifically states as objectives to:
(a) Develop and increase the potential of marine
resources to meet human nutritional needs as
well as social economic and development
goals;
(b) Maintain or restore populations of marine
species at levels which can produce the
maximum sustainable yield as qualified by
relevant environmental and economic
factors, taking into consideration
relationships among species...
Indeed, the IWC in its charter recognizes consumptive use of
renewable whale resources by "proper conservation of whale
stocks [to] make possible the orderly
development of the whaling industry."
In sum, the limited harvest of marine resources based upon
scientific principles is internationally recognized as an
appropriate standard upon which to base decisions of taking.
The United States has domestically and internationally adhered
to a policy of fostering scientific management of wildlife and
marine resources that includes the consumptive use of those
renewable stocks. To depart form that historically correct
position would be send a most inappropriate message to the
other nations of the world on the international policy of the
United States regarding the consumptive use of wildlife
renewable resources. This would be particularly significant in
the 128 nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna & Flora (CITES) that recognizes the
World Conservation Strategy that endorses sustainable
utilization of renewable resources.
We sincerely trust the Administration will consider the long
range aspects of wildlife management including consumptive use
when participating in international wildlife and marine
resource agreements.
Sincerely,
Bill Brewster
Member of Congress, sign.
Don Young
Member of Congress, sign.