Minke whale is transfered onto the Nisshin Maru factory ship of the Japanese whaling fleet.
According to news reports [1] out of Hawaii, US Commissioner of
the International Whaling Commission, Dr. Doug DeMaster, and the US
Chair of the IWC, Dr William Hogarth, took part in closed-door
negotiations with Japan over the weekend that could allow increased
whaling off the coast of Japan in return for a marginal drop in the
so-called "scientific" quota [2] of whales hunted in the Southern
Ocean Whale Sanctuary. This trade-off will not benefit whale
conservation - and could actually put additional endangered
populations at risk. [3].
Ironically, a search for "whaling" on the new Administration's
White House website brings no results and suggests searching for
"dealing" instead [4].
Greenpeace understands that President Obama did not anticipate
whaling to be a priority at this early stage of his term, but his
position on the campaign trail was unequivocal.
Before last November's election, Greenpeace USA asked Mr. Obama,
"If you are elected president, what concrete steps will you take to
convince Japan to stop
whaling?"
He replied: "As president, I will ensure that the US provides
leadership in enforcing international wildlife protection
agreements, including strengthening the international moratorium on
commercial whaling. Allowing Japan to continue commercial whaling
is unacceptable." [5]
"President Obama has hit the ground running since 20 January and
his words and action on climate change and other environmental
issues are very welcome," said Greenpeace International Whales
Campaign coordinator Sara Holden. "We realise that whales were
never going to be on the agenda in his first week, but the worrying
news reports from Hawaii means that this issues needs to be address
sooner rather than later".
Greenpeace is calling on President Obama to take just a few
minutes to end this potentially damaging negotiation by ensuring a
new IWC Commissioner is appointed with experience in high-level
international negotiations to ensure the US position in these
negotiations matches the agenda of the Obama Administration and the
American people.
Greenpeace is an independent, global campaigning organisation
that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and
conserve the environment, and to promote peace.
Other contacts: Jane Kochersperger, Media Officer, Greenpeace USA: +1 202 319 2493Dave Walsh, Greenpeace International Media, in Ireland: +353 87 220 7023For images: http://usaphoto.greenpeace.org/20090126Whaling/Bob Meyers, Senior Photo Editor, Greenpeace USA + 1 202 319 2453[B-roll of whales and whaling also available]
Notes: [1] Washington Post story about the attempts to craft a deal:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/24/AR2009012402053_pf.html[2] Japan's commercial whaling operation currently targets around 935 minke whales and 50 endangered fin whales each season in the Southern Ocean, under the guise of scientific research. A review of this programme by the IWC's Scientific Committee found that it has failed to reach a single one of its objectives. The IWC has stated that it does not need the data produced by this programme and has repeatedly asked Japan to call it off.[3] Some populations of minke whale off the coast of Japan – known as J-Stock – are classified as endangered and are at risk from an increase in coastal whaling[4] http://www.whitehouse.gov/search/?keywords=whaling - Screenshot from 27 January available at http://www.greenpeace.org/whitehouse-whale-search-fail[5] Response from then presidential candidate Barack Obama available at: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/assets/binaries/obama-questionnaire-response