No Surprise: More Skullduggery at the Whaling Commission
By Mark J. Palmer
For the first time since the COVID crisis unfolded, the International Whaling Commission met in person in Slovenia, with the Plenary Session meeting of the parties from October 17th to the 21st.
In the past, the government of Japan was a major player, especially pulling strings for a number of small nations that have been overtly bribed to support Japan’s whaling operations. In return, these countries receive “fisheries aid” from Japan as well as many perks for individual delegates. All to ensure their votes in favor of whaling.
Despite the fact that Japan left the Commission officially in 2019, Japan’s puppet nations continue to indulge in delays and obstruction, along with pushing yet another resolution to end the IWC ban on commercial whaling (a ban which Japan, Iceland and Norway do not follow anyway).
The surprise this time was the commercial whaling resolution was presented by the delegate from Antigua and Barbuda, Daven Joseph, who spent twenty-two minutes – which some believe to be a record for the IWC - presenting the “need” for killing whales to address “food security.” Since nobody in Antigua and Barbuda actually eat whale meat, much less go whaling, the insistence of his speech was hardly sincere or credible.
More importantly, his own government expressed puzzlement that the resolution was offered by their country, as no such policy in favor of commercial whaling had been approved by the government.
In response, the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute joined 21 other environmental and animal welfare organizations in sending a letter to Prime Minister Gaston Browne, condemning the actions of the Antigua and Barbuda delegation at the IWC.
The letter states: “It is hard to understand why the delegation continues to act as a promoter of the legalization and resumption of commercial whaling when Antigua and Barbuda has no history of commercial whaling nor has it announced any interest to undertake commercial whaling.”
“We, the undersigned organizations, are very concerned by this and other initiatives by your country within the IWC, especially when Antigua and Barbuda acts with a clear and strong voice towards conserving the ocean in other fora.”
Further obstruction occurred when the IWC debated a proposal by Latin American nations to establish a whale sanctuary, where no whaling would be allowed, in the south Atlantic Ocean. Sixteen national delegations walked out of the meeting, preventing a vote, as confusion reigned over whether the IWC still had a quorum to consider the sanctuary proposal.
The IWC punted, putting off a vote both on the resolution to resume commercial whaling and establishment of the sanctuary.
Coming in for criticism are the delegations of the United States and the European Union, which, in the eyes of one environmentalist, “leaned over backwards” to avoid a vote on the sanctuary and placate the countries deliberately interrupting the meeting by leaving the venue. Why did they not push for a vote, since a quorum existed throughout the meeting? This is not the first time Japan and its client nations have disrupted the IWC. Why the kid gloves, US and EU?
And, yes, Antigua and Barbuda was one of the countries that left the meeting to prevent a quorum.
The Japan government still attends IWC meetings, as an “observer” rather than a voting member, but it is clear their bribery continues to dictate opposition to protecting whales at the IWC.
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Ending commercial whaling has been a goal of the International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute since our inception in 1982. Many nations put an end to its whaling industries, but Iceland, Japan, and Norway continue to ignore the IWC ban and public opposition, despite continued problems with finding markets of consumers who will actually eat the stuff. We ask that you consider a donation to our efforts to end commercial whaling and all killing and harming of whales and dolphins. Thank you for your support!
