Whaling Meeting Doesn't Lead To Results

Kristopher Hilbert / 11:22 AM / 02.29.08 / Pollution / 7

        Earlier this week nations from all over the globe, NGOs, conservationists, scientists, and whaling leaders met in Tokyo to discuss the current whaling protocols. The meeting was brought about by a US based think-tank who was hired to help resolve the global disagreements on whaling. Opinions ranged from Japanese leaders saying whaling is “trivial” to Green Peace explaining the importance of biodiversity and survival of species. These annual meetings have been gathering for over 25 years yet little has been done to really resolve the global disagreements.
        Through the International Whaling Commission many laws and regulations have been created in order to satisfy all parties. These rules range from types of whales to the purpose of the slaughter to the amount that are killed. The problem is enforcement. There are also many loopholes that have allowed whaling to thrive such as Japan’s excuse of “scientific research” and Norway’s of “disagreeing with the IWC.” There are fears from conservationists that nations that are pro-whaling will soon leave the IWC and form their own, more lenient organization.
        The heightened media attention and emotions involved with the current whaling practices is forcing both parties to budge on their beliefs. Pro-whaling nations have admitted to believing they can reduce numbers and conservationist groups have not denied to option. Many are hoping for a reform of the IWC with stricter guidelines, stronger enforcement, and binding agreements.

        At least they’re talking. The concept of a group of rich leaders discussing whether it’s economically possible to kill fewer whales is absurd. It worries me that the conservationists might budge on a total moratorium. The nations that currently whale see the problems of their whaling practices but simply say they are necessary. An option I have not seen placed on the table is for anti-whaling nations and groups to help pro-whaling nations economically make up for what they will “lose” from not whaling. Just because it can help an economy to kill thousands of whales a year doesn’t mean humans should.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7266516.stm