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Revised Management
Scheme |
With
respect to the Revised Management Scheme, a system to calculate the
number of whales to be taken so as not to deplete the whale population
and to monitor and regulate the catch, anti-whaling members proposed
excessive demand to the whaling countries such as expenses to be borne
by the whaling countries in observer programs, DNA registration, monitoring
of whale meat distribution routes and killing method. Japan proposed
a Schedule amendment incorporating the agreement in the related working
groups to date. However, the proposed amendment was defeated with
16 supporting votes, 25 against and 3 abstentions.
On the other
hand, Sweden and other countries tabled a Schedule amendment intended
to invalidate the resumtion of whaling, which called for maintenance
of the moratorium clause and prohibition of catch of whales on the
high seas. This proposal was defeated by 12 votes in support, 24 against
and 7 abstentions. |
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Whale sanctuary |
A proposal to establish a whale sanctuary in the South
Pacific, jointly presented by Australia and New Zealand,
P
was defeated by 21 to 16, with 5 abstentions. So was
the proposal by Brazil to establish a whale sanctuary
in the South Atlantic by 23 to 18 with 4 abstentions.
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IWC contribution system |
Agreement
was reached to apply alleviation of member's contribution on a provisional
basis for the coming three years. This agreement came from the fact
that no conclusion was made on the method of new calculation of contribution
after four years of discussion. It is anticipated that the door for
IWC membership will be open wider for the developing countries, suggesting
a step toward normalization of the IWC as an international organization. |
SUPU Calls for Sustainable Whaling based on Science
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Prior
to the IWC Annual meeting, the Sustainable Use Parliamentarians Union
(SUPU), an international organization of parliamentarians seeking
realization of sustainable use of wildlife resources, held its extraordinary
meeting on May 21.
Reflecting a
wider interest in the issue among parliamentarians, SUPU-JAPAN was
inaugurated in May this year as a subordinate regional body of SUPU
International, with 119 members of the Japanese Diet (Parliament)
joining from a broad-range of political parties. Mr.Yutaka Takeyama,
member of the House of Councillors, was elected as Chairman of SUPU-Japan,
with Mr. Shunichi Suzuki as Secretary General and Mr. Yoshimasa Hayashi
as Secretary. Mr. Takeyama was also elected as vice-chairman of SUPU
International.
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| Press
conference given by SUPU Chairman R. Pombo (center) after the
SUPU Extraordinary Meeting in Shimonoseki. |
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Addressing the
meeting, attended by about 20 of SUPU- Japan members as well as representatives
from about 20 countries in support of pro-use of wildlife resources,
SUPU Chairman Richard Pombo (member of the U.S. Congress, R-California),
stressed that SUPU should seek a middle way between the overly protectionist
position and unbridled overexploitation of the resources based on
the principle of sustainable use. The meeting unanimously adopted
a resolution calling for the realization of sustainable use of wildlife
resources, including whales.
| SUPU
RESOLUTION ON SUSTAINABLE USE May 19th 2002,
Shimonoseki |
WHEREAS
the Sustainable Use Parliamentarians
Union (SUPU) recognizes and supports the sustainable
use of renewable wildlife and marine resources
under professional and scientific management;
WHEREAS
the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea, the United Nations' Earth Summit
and the Kyoto Declaration and Plan of Action on the
Sustainable Contribution of Fisheries to Food Security
recognize that marine resources are to be managed
to secure food for human nutritional needs as
well as recognizing traditional and cultural objective
of nations;
WHEREAS
the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) recognizes that scientific evidence must be
the basis of listing and de-listing species on its Appendices;
WHEREAS
the Charter of the International Convention
for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) recognizes
the consumptive use of renewable whale re-
sources by "proper conservation of whale stocks [to]
make possible the orderly development of the whaling
industry;" |
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