IMMP responds to
Norwegian whaling claims.
The Winter/Spring 1995 Ocean Alert (formerly the Dolphin Alert) is an Earth Island Institute publication.
Renegade Norwegian whalers may soon be joined by Icelandic and Japanese whalers in defying the International Whaling Commission (IWC) whaling ban. In addition to minke whales that Norway continues to kill in defiance of the IWC's moratorium, reports now indicate that endangered fin and humpbacks are also being slaughtered illegally. But, the Clinton Administration refuses to impose economic sanctions on Norway.
Our project continues to press for an end to commercial whaling. By educating the public about the threats still facing whales, urging the Clinton Administration to ban all fish imports from Norway, as well as conducting undercover investigations of illegally smuggled whale meat, we aim for a final end to the unnecessary whale slaughter. In 1993, Norway openly defied an IWC global ban on commercial whaling and killed 226 minke whales in the Northeastern Atlantic Ocean. In response, the US Commerce Department certified that Norway was "diminishing the effectiveness" of the IWC and thereby authorized President Clinton to ban the import of certain Norwegian products. However, last October, Clinton notified Congress that he would not impose sanctions until "good-faith" negotiations to persuade Norway to abide by the IWC commercial whaling ban had concluded. But, no good-faith negotiations ever took place between the US and Norway. Instead, Vice President Gore held secret meetings with Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Brundtland and helped Norway obtain a whale kill quota from the IWC at its annual meeting in May. Once news of these meetings was leaked, Earth Island and a host of other environmental organizations waged a campaign to alert the public to the administration's sell out. Full-page newspaper advertisements criticized the US' actions, and citizens sent thousands of letters and telegrams to the White House to pressure the administration to protect the whales.
At the IWC meeting, Norway failed in its attempt to overturn the global whaling ban. No country was granted a quota for commercial kills. In addition, a resolution was passed establishing a whale sanctuary in the Southern Ocean of Antarctica. Commercial whaling is prohibited in the sanctuary which covers one-third of the world's oceans and contains close to 90 percent of the remaining whales. EII Executive Director David Phillips called the sanctuary, "...a big step forward for international whale conservation."
Even with the establishment of the sanctuary and the IWC's refusal to grant any commercial quotas, Norway announced that it would again defy the moratorium. Since May 1994, Norway has killed 301 minke whales, a 20 percent increase over its kill last year. In addition, Japan responded by filing a formal objection to the Antarctic Sanctuary, saying that the minke whale population is large enough in that region to sustain commercial whaling. In 1994, Japan proceeded to kill 330 minke whales, including 21 in the North Pacific Ocean under the guise of "scientific research." Iceland has also stated its intention to commence killing whales again by the spring of 1995.
Up to this point, Norway has defied the IWC commercial whaling ban with impunity. Its recent vote not to join the European Community (EC) makes the EC's ban against commercial whaling inconsequential to Norway. The EC is now unable to pressure Norway to stop whaling; it could embargo Norwegian products. It is illegal for whale meat to be bought or sold in any EC nation.
While Norway generates up to $7 million annually by selling whale meat, a US ban on its fish imports would cost Norway more than $100 million in lost revenue. The Clinton Administration could take the lead and impose sanctions against Norway, sending a strong signal that Norway's blatant disregard for international bans cannot be tolerated. Norway's whale slaughter affects not only the minke whale. It opens markets to the killing of all types of whales, including those populations on the brink of extinction. In an attempt to assess the illegal trade in whale meat, IMMP is supporting a team of undercover investigators to take DNA samples of whale meat sold around the world. "It is quite clear that meat from highly endangered fin and humpback whales is on market shelves right now," said Phillips.
The IWC meets again this June in Ireland. We will keep up the pressure to ensure that the ban stays in place and is properly enforced so that the world's whales will no longer be killed illegally.
IMMP responds to
Norwegian whaling claims.
Please see What you can do to help put an end to this slaughter.
Ocean Alert - Winter / Spring 1995.
http://www.earthisland.org/immp/immp3.html