WHALES GIVEN RESPITE: ATTEMPTS TO RESUME TRADE BLOCKED AT FIRST HURDLE

WHALES GIVEN RESPITE: ATTEMPTS TO RESUME TRADE BLOCKED AT FIRST HURDLE

15 April 2000

Nairobi/Amsterdam -- Greenpeace today welcomed the rejection of four proposals by Japan and Norway to revive commercial whaling at the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), currently taking place in Nairobi, Kenya.

Although a final decision will not be adopted by CITES until next week, it is likely that whales will be saved from their biggest threat in over a decade. CITES member states voted against each of Japan and NorwayＴ proposals to downlist three populations of minke whale and the gray whale from Appendix I to Appendix II of the CITES list.

If today's decisions are not challenged and whales remain on Appendix I, the current ban on international trade in whale meat and blubber will remain in place.

"Greenpeace congratulates all nations that have recognised the need to protect whales from international trade and urges them to stand by their decisions. History shows us that commercial whaling leads to the devastation of whale populations. Allowing trade would only encourage illegal whaling and spell disaster for whale populations the world over," said John Frizell of Greenpeace International.

Both Japan and Norway continue to hunt whales despite the ban on commercial whaling in 1986 (1). JapanＴ whaling fleet returned from whaling in the protected Antarctic waters of the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary with a catch of 439 minke whales just a few days before the CITES meeting began. Norwegian whaling vessels are due to start this yearＴ hunt in the north east Atlantic on 24th April.

Each of Norway and JapanＴ proposals received less support at this weekＴ meeting than they did when voted upon at the last CITES meeting in 1997.

"The extent to which both countries are prepared to compromise endangered whales for the sake of financial gain from minkes has shocked many countries," said Frizell. "Any moves to sabotage todayＴ decision will only serve to further tarnish their international reputation," he added.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
- Matilda Bradshaw on + 254 (2) 72 526 285
- Greenpeace International press desk on + 31 20 524 9637

(1) The International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned commercial whaling in 1986, but Japan has continued to hunt for 'scientific' purposes and Norway has ignored the ban.

In a statement yesterday, U.S. President Clinton said: "I am deeply concerned that successful efforts by the international community to protect endangered species would be undermined by proposals to reopen trade in elephant ivory and whale products." (White House press release, April 14th 2000).

Japan and Norway will continue their attempts to legalise their whaling operations at the International Whaling Commission meeting, to be held in Australia, July 2000.