JAPAN AND EAST CARIBBEAN NATIONS BLOCK WHALE SANCTUARY VOTE

4 July 2000

ADELAIDE -- Greenpeace warned that the future of whales in the South Pacific is uncertain after the proposal by the governments of Australia and New Zealand to establish a South Pacific Whale Sanctuary failed today at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Adelaide, Australia.

The proposed sanctuary had the backing of all the South Pacific island states whose waters it would have covered and the majority support of countries at the IWC meeting. It failed to be adopted because Japan, adamantly opposed to it, influenced the votes of six East Caribbean countries, to which it gives significant economic aid.

"It’s of deep concern that such an important step towards the conservation of whales can be blocked by the economic leverage of one country. The future of whale populations in these waters is now uncertain. Why would Japan go to such expense and put so much effort into defeating the sanctuary proposal if it didn’t intend to hunt in the South Pacific?" said John Frizell of Greenpeace International.

These countries, together with Norway, which has no economic interest in whaling in the South Pacific, prevented the proposal from getting the three quarters majority it needed to pass. Three votes in favour of the sanctuary, from countries such as New Zealand, Australia and the France are neutralised by a single vote against it from an East Caribbean country, such as Dominica.

"We are deeply disappointed that the East Caribbean nations have ignored the wishes of South Pacific islands and have allowed their vote to be bought by a country that wants to commercially exploit whales thousands of miles away from its own shores," said Sakiusa Qereqeretabua from Greenpeace Australia Pacific.

"This vote should have been about conserving the world’s remaining whale populations, not about short term economic gain. A South Pacific Whale Sanctuary would have stimulated sustainable industries and economic independence for developing island states by providing a strong foundation for the emerging whale watching industry," he added.

Despite the proposal’s defeat today, Greenpeace is encouraged by the strong support for the South Pacific Whale Sanctuary this year and welcomes the continued support of the governments of Australia and New Zealand to return with this proposal at next year’s IWC meeting.

"This may have been a victory for Japan’s vote buying has not seen an end to this proposal. This year has formed a strong foundation for the sanctuary's success in the future,” concluded John Frizell.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
- Matilda Bradshaw, Greenpeace International in Adelaide on +61 (0)407 414 572 or +316 535 04701
- Jade Richardson in Adelaide on +61 (0)413 837 133
- Marcus Priest in Sydney on +61 (0) 410 584 466

Visit Greenpeace's IWC website at ww.greenpeace.org/~oceans/iwc for more information.

The East Caribbean nations that voted against the South Pacific Whale Sanctuary were: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines.

Countries that voted in favour of the proposal were:Australia, Chile, Finland, Germany, India, Mexico, Monaco, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand, Austria, Brazil, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the U.K. and the U.S.