The International Whaling Commission (IWC) 55th Annual Meeting in Berlin

Background

The 55^th Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) is meeting June 16-19, 2003, in Berlin. The IWC’s Scientific Committee and other subgroups met during the weeks preceding the annual meeting.

Meetings of the IWC are marked by the ever-increasing polarization between those members that seek to lift the moratorium on commercial whaling as soon as possible and those that oppose lifting the moratorium -- either permanently or at least not before the Revised Management Scheme is put into place. The portion of the Scheme dealing with how to calculate stock-specific catch limits was completed in 1992; the portion of the Scheme dealing with establishing a system of observation, monitoring, and data collection remains unfinished.

Complicating matters, Japan’s active recruitment efforts have resulted in near parity in the number of members in each camp; the outcomes of several matters that are decided by simple majority cannot be predicted (i.e., all matters that come before the Commission for a decision with the exception of Schedule amendments, which require a three-quarters majority).

Since October 2002, Iceland has been a member of the IWC with a reservation to the moratorium on commercial whaling. Eighteen countries -- including the United States -- have deposited objections to Iceland’s reservation. Of these, three members (i.e., Italy, Mexico, and New Zealand) do not recognize Iceland as a member of the Commission.

Although confidential until released by the Commission, media reports suggest that Iceland plans to take 100 minke (“mink-ee”), 100 fin, and 50 sei (“say”) whales within Iceland’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

Each year, Japan takes 440 minke whales in the Antarctic and 150 minke, 50 Bryde’s (“broodis”), 50 sei, and 10 sperm whales in the North Pacific Ocean under the Whaling Convention’s provision allowing scientific whaling without approval from the Commission; such whaling is not subject to the moratorium on commercial whaling.

1. Establishing a New Conservation Committee

The United States supports Mexico’s proposal (the Berlin Initiative) to establish a new Conservation Committee.

The Japanese Diet Whale Caucus opposes this new Committee, stating that it would focus on whale protection initiatives and would not be consistent with the Whaling Convention’s intention to promote the sustainable use of whales.

The United States is concerned by such statements, and has sought to reassure Japan that in the view of the United States, ”conservation” implies stewardship of natural resources, where both conservation and management interests are considered.

2. Completing a Revised Management Scheme (RMS)

The United States continues to stress the need for equitable compromises to complete an effective and broadly supported Revised Management Scheme.

The United States has offered compromises dealing with placement of international observers, the use of DNA to verify catches of whales, and the sharing of the costs of the RMS.

The whaling nations have shown no flexibility and have offered no compromises.

The United States will not consider lifting the moratorium on commercial whaling until an effective and transparent management scheme is in place.

3. Whaling under Scientific Permit

Iceland has submitted a proposal to the Commission’s Scientific Committee to begin a lethal scientific whaling program. Iceland has not announced when it would begin this program.

The United States strongly questions Japan’s and Iceland’s claims that lethal scientific whaling is necessary to evaluate the impact of whale predation on fish stocks.

The United States is opposed to Japan’s lethal scientific whaling programs and the proposal to begin such whaling by Iceland.

4. Japanese Small-Type Coastal Whaling

The United States delegation in Berlin has only recently received Japan’s latest North Pacific proposals.

The new proposals would more than double the present annual catch of 150 minke and 50 Bryde’s whales that Japan already takes in the North Pacific through its lethal scientific whaling program.

5. Sanctuaries

The United States strongly supports proposals to establish whale sanctuaries in the South Pacific Ocean and in the South Atlantic Ocean.