Following is the reply that I received from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) regarding Taiji and Faroe Islands dolphin slaughters and Japanese and Iceland whaling. Dear Nancy, Thank you for your e-mail. As you may already be aware, the background on this issue is complex. The IWC consists of 87 member governments, some of whom hold very different views on issues related to whaling, and on cetaceans more generally. The IWC was originally created to manage whaling and the conservation of whales, and there is strong disagreement among some member governments on whether it is correct to interpret this remit as including small cetaceans (dolphins and porpoises). Some IWC members maintain that the IWC only has jurisdiction over the ‘great whale’ species. The IWC has never regulated catches of small cetaceans and has no authority to do so unless IWC members agree that this is within the remit of the organisation. IWC members did reach agreement that the Scientific Committee of the organisation has a role in studying and advising on small cetaceans. In recognition of the critically endangered status of some small cetacean species, and the need for international coordination, IWC members also agreed to the organisations management of a small cetacean conservation programme which now has projects working all over the world, and with some of the most at risk populations. A new series of these conservation programmes is now underway (and there is some information about them on our website). But whilst valuable conservation work is undertaken, strong divisions remain over whether the IWC has any remit to manage catches of small cetaceans. Cultures, histories and views on hunting of cetaceans (and other animals) range widely across the 87 member governments and reaching consensus is a complex process. I realise that this explanation can seem bureaucratic, but I hope you understand the complexity and would agree that it is nevertheless important that these 87 governments continue to come together. It is only through inclusion and dialogue at an international and inter-governmental level that conservation of migratory animals like cetaceans becomes anything like a realistic aim. I understand this is not the response you would like but I hope it explains the IWC position. Kate Wilson Kate Wilson International Whaling Commission (In office Mon-Thur, 8am-4pm, UK time) **The IWC is useless!
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 23:06:55 +0000