Whaling Deal Is Dead IWC To Retain Moratorium On Commercial Whaling
The moratorium on commercial whaling remains in place today as the member countries of the IWC rejected a compromise whaling proposal that would have allowed a return to commercial whaling. “This deal was nothing but a 10 year free for all for the whalers. It is now dead,” said Mick McIntyre, director of the Sydney based conservation group Whales Alive.
Two years of secret discussions followed by another day and a half of secret Commissioners’ negotiations at the 62nd meeting of the IWC in Agadir ended with the proposal not getting enough support.
“This is a great victory for the whales,” says McIntyre
“Had this compromise agreement been approved by the IWC, not only would the 25-year-old moratorium on whaling have been lifted, but the illegal and immoral activities of Japan, Norway and Iceland would have received the stamp of approval from the IWC,” McIntyre said today from Agadir.
The IWC will now be looking at a number of conservation initiatives.
“We must work towards the IWC being a conservation driven convention.” McIntyre said
The whaling deal is Dead! Long Live the Moratorium!
Mick McIntyre has attended every meeting of the IWC as an observer since 1993.
He Is Available For Comment And Interview Direct From Agadir. Please Call +212650629432 Or Michael Young In Sydney, 0410 408 492
www.whalesalive.org.au