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Debate was particularly fierce on the Japanese plan to extend the research to include an annual take of 40 Bryde’s and 10 sperm whales from the North Pacific. Until now, the program has been limited to 100 minke whales in the North Pacific and 400 (+/-10%) minke whales in the Southern Ocean.
The non-binding resolution on scientific whaling in the North Pacific was adopted with 19 votes in favour, 12 against and two abstentions.
Votes cast in favour: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the USA.
Votes cast against: Antigua and Barbuda, China, Dominica, Grenada, Guinea, Japan, Korea, Norway, Russia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Denmark and South Africa abstained.
In an explanation to its vote, South Africa expressed its disappointment that the Scientific Committee could not agree on a recommendation on the plans to extend the scientific catch to sperm and Bryde’s whales. Because of this lack of scientific advice, it chose to abstain.
Oman associated itself with the comments from South Africa, apparently having forgotten that it voted in favour of the resolution just a couple of minutes earlier.
The other resolution on whaling under special permit in the Southern Ocean was adopted with 20 votes in favour, 10 against and three abstentions. On this vote, Oman indeed chose to abstain.
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