IWC 61 Thursday morning - urgent update
The Humpback Hunt
Since Monday evening when, just after most people had left for a reception and the proposal from Denmark on the behalf of Greenland to start a new humpback hunt in the North Atlantic arrived, the IWC (and especially the European Union[EU]) has been in some disarray.
Whilst much business as reported slowly here in the web diary has gone on as usual, behind the scenes the EU which holds a blocking minority at the commission has been trying to deal with this proposal. We know that within the EU the vote is divided. Denmark obviously supports (which also means whenever the EU meets to negotiate around this matter the proponent is present) and Sweden does too.
The UK Germany and a growing number of others strongly oppose. The EU countries are meant to reach consensus. If they are unable to then they have to vote. However, there is much confusion about how this system works here and, we are sorry to say that this confusion comes from the European Commission staff present here too, which is really not helping.
Whilst there has not been any further discussion in public in the IWC plenary on the Danish proposal, an amended version was introduced again last night, reducing the request to 10 whales for one year, not the original three. The EU met last night to consider the proposal and negotiate further with Denmark. This is all likely to come to a head this morning.
Our hope is that the EU as a block will oppose and the whales will be saved.
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