25. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

(from "Chairman's Report of the Fiftieth Annual Meeting")


The Netherlands introduced a Resolution, co-sponsored by Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Spain, UK and USA, on Canadian membership to the IWC. It noted the bowhead catches by Canada and the concerns of the Scientific Committee on the stocks, and reaffirmed the position of the IWC as the sole body to regulate whaling. There was wide support, and consultation with the Canadian observer.

Japan spoke of the increase of whale resources since the moratorium, and the increased catches in Indonesia and the Philippines. It wondered why Canada had been singled out. Normal discussion should occur in the IWC, rather than the weak and vulnerable being bullied, and it was opposed to inviting Canada to rejoin until there was a better spirit within the Commission.

The Canadian observer was invited to speak, and he thanked the Commission for this opportunity. He recalled Canada's constitution which gives harvesting rights to the native peoples consistent with conservation requirements. There is no commercial whaling, and it collaborates with the IWC by sending an observer to the Annual Meeting, and scientists to the Scientific Committee.

Denmark agreed that whaling should be within the IWC, noted the depleted condition of the Hudson Bay stock, and recalled that while Article VI of the Convention allowed the Commission to make recommendations to Contracting Governments, it would welcome Canada becoming a member through the normal diplomatic channels.

Mexico commented on the repetitive text of the Resolution, and suggested deleting the final phrase, but later withdrew this proposal.

The USA pointed to Article 65 of UNCLOS and Agenda 21 to identify the IWC as the sole global authority for whales, and therefore supported the Resolution. Norway shared the sentiments expressed by Denmark, and stressed the plural organisations referred to in Article 65.

The Netherlands reiterated the dangerous situation of the stocks concerned, and after the Chairman noted that there was some opposition, the Resolution shown in Appendix 17 was adopted by 20 votes in favour to 6 against, with 6 abstentions.

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