‘100 days to Save the Whale’

The world’s leading whale conservation charity today issued a stark warning about the “perfect storm” which could permanently damage the future survival of these mammals.

In launching its ‘100 days to Save the Whale’ campaign, WDCS, theWhale and Dolphin Conservation Society is highlighting the urgent need to protect whales from an industry which is increasingly aggressive in its approach to international conventions in pursuit of both the numbers and different species it kills.

ake-up call to the international community comes as there are just 100 days until the end of this year’s International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Alaska , USA . More than any other meeting in recent history, the 2007 IWC conference will be crucial for the future of whales. Last year, pro-whaling countries gained the majority of votes at the IWC for the first time since the ban on commercial whaling was put in place 20 years ago. This year they are expected to use that majority to attack vital protection from commercial whaling and international trade in whale products.

WDCS’ US Policy Director and leading anti whaling and trade campaigner, Sue Fisher said “Whale conservation currently faces the biggest onslaught since the ban on commercial whaling was put in place. Not only do pro-whaling countries want to lift the ban on whaling, but they also aim to lift restrictions on international trade in whale products – which, if allowed, would once again fuel an uncontrollable slaughter.”

In January 2007, Japan proposed a review of the great whales currently protected from trade, such as humpback, blue, fin and sperm whales. The Japanese proposal will be considered at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in the Netherlands , just days after the conclusion of the IWC. CITES regards the IWC as the authority on whale issues and follows its lead by banning trade in whales that are protected from whaling. This move by Japan is an attempt to break that relationship.

“These two meetings are providing a perfect storm for whales. Pro-whaling nations tipped the balance of power at the IWC last year and they are hoping to build on that influence this year. The combination of the decisions at IWC and CITES this year could be devastating for whales for generations to come”, continued Sue Fisher.

“Commercial markets for whale products once fuelled a slaughter that saw many whale species pushed to near extinction. If international trade is permitted again, whale products could once more be in demand from industries all around the world. We simply cannot let it happen again.”

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