21. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF IWC FOR THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF WHALE RESOURCES

(from "Chairman's Report of the Forty-Fifth Annual Meeting")


Japan introduced a Resolution on sustainable use on behalf of Dominica, Grenada, Norway, St Lucia and St Vincent and The Grenadines. This took account of decisions on sustainable use of marine living resources at UNCED and sustainable development discussed in FAO, and concluded that sustainable use of whale resources will not endanger whale populations while securing human nutritional needs. The Resolution was to be forwarded to Contracting and non-Contracting Governments, and relevant international organisations, together with relevant extracts from the Commission's report on this matter. Dominica spoke in support.

India thought the time was not yet ripe for commercial whaling to be resumed. The USA also found the Resolution unsatisfactory as in its view the excerpts from UNCED were taken out of context and there were selective interpretations of the concept of sustainable use. It submitted an alternative Resolution presenting a balanced summary of the conclusions of UNCED and noting the relevance of non-lethal use and the importance of promoting recovery of stocks.

New Zealand, Netherlands and Australia all supported the second Resolution, from the USA, rather than the first from Japan. Mexico could not agree with either since they both implied the IWC addressing all cetaceans, and Chile also had reservations on both. New Zealand suggested voting on both, and Spain wondered if it might be possible to marry the two.

Further discussion, including comments by Brazil that it thought the Resolutions matched each other and Switzerland finding elements of great value in each, eventually led to the decision by their proposers to drop both Resolutions. On Australia's suggestion, the Commission agreed to keep the item on the agenda to promote annual discussion because of its global concern.

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