NEWS RELEASE
IWC MEETING – NO ROME FOR COMPROMISE

9 March 2009 – The New Zealand Government must fight harder than ever for the future of whales as the intercessional meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) starts today in Rome to continue negotiations that may lead to lifting the moratorium on commercial whaling.

During the IWC meeting this week, a package deal will be presented which is essentially a one-way compromise that could lift the commercial whaling moratorium; allow the Government of Japan to kill endangered species, and permit illegal, high-seas whaling to continue. 

“Rather than compromising hard-won conservation measures and finding ways for whaling to expand, the IWC and its member governments should be seeking to stop ‘scientific’ whaling, which is illegal under international law, and demanding full compliance with international obligations,” Darren Kindleysides, IFAW Campaigns Manager, said.

“We expect the New Zealand Government to fight for the future of whales and the future of the IWC. They must expose the extreme bad faith the Government of Japan continues to demonstrate by threatening to leave the IWC and by continuing to kill whales in an internationally recognized whale sanctuary.

“The international moratorium on commercial whaling needs to be strengthened, not weakened as the world’s whales face more threats than ever before from increased whaling, entanglement in fishing nets, pollution, ship strikes and man-made ocean noise.

“We call on all of those attending the meeting in Rome not to compromise on whale protection and to move towards evolving the IWC into a body that conserves whales,” Mr Kindleysides said.

Patrick Ramage, IFAW Whales Program Director is in Rome during the meeting

ENDS

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