IWC 61 Day 3 Part 3

"Whales have the right to be eaten"

After the NGO speakers have scuttled away to the second-class seats at the back of the magma chamber (where there are no power sockets or tables and sometimes still no water), the two big TV screens at the front of the hall fill again with the imposing bearded image of Arne Bjorge, the Chair of the IWC Scientific Committee.

He takes us through the report of the Scientific Committee where it considered the workshop on climate change held by the IWC in Siena in February.

After he finishes, the UK speaks up (a little hoarsely) thanks Costa Rica who also held a climate change workshop in support of the IWC one. Noting how the information flowed from one to the other. He congratulates all those involved in the IWC climate change workshop and notes the many excellent recommendations endorsed by the Scientific Committee. One recommendation speaks to the need to further work on small cetaceans and that intersessional work had been proposed, which the UK strongly supports and asks that the agenda item is kept open so that interested parties can consult.

Austria offers to host

Italy is also supportive.

Luxembourg (very eloquently) speaks of the warm hospitality of the host [certainly the larva in the magma chamber is bubbling away this morning] and thanks Austria for offering to hosting. He is pleased that the Siena meeting (which he was instrumental in setting up) has gone so well. Others speak up in favour as well and then we come to Australia who notes that some of the recommendations from Siena will be picked up via their Southern Ocean Research Programme .

The US says that it would like to contribute financially to the meeting.

After further messages of support for this very popular initiative – a small, small cetacean workshop on climate change – the Scientific Committee chain is finally allowed to take us further through his agenda. He next speaks about Ecosystems Modelling. {Over in the corner a few European Countries are avidly seen to be trying to coordinate.]

The the SC Chair speaks of the IWC’s pollution work via its programme Pollution 2000+. Mexico speaks to support and Sweden tells us about its own polluted porpoises.

Dr Bjorge ploughs on with his report, noting the much valued delivery of the annual State of the Cetacean Environment Report (SOCER). No one says anything. The CERD initiative on disease is also detailed and then growing concerns about the proliferation of marine renewable energy devises in the marine environment. More research is called for.

An IWC sponsored conference on MPAs is also noted. All items now pass by at high speed.

The chair announces we are on agenda item 11.4. There is an urgent shuffling of papers. Anyone know what this is about? Will he tell us. Apparently not and we are poised to move on when Monaco realizes that this is about Human Health. As you may recall, states the distinguished commissioner, Monaco helped to draft Resolution 1998.1 which placed this matter on the agenda. In those days we had some suspicion that, due to biomagnification, pollutants would come up the food chain to top predators. [He lists some multi-syllable chemical names. Sounds complex and a few European Commissioners look up anxiously in case they need to ‘coordinate’ on this.]).

Monaco continues that some ten years later, the evidence coming from medical authorities shows that our suspicions were right that pollutants would be widely distributed. He notes that extensive data from the Faroe Islands focusing on mercury and PCBs shows that levels are high (twice the values tolerated for the most contaminated fish) has led the chief medical officer there to recommend that whale meat is no longer consumed.

He speaks slowly and calmly and goes on to detail the advice – ‘It is recommended that pilot whale is not used for human consumers’.

Norway’s distinguished lead scientist say that it is true that some whales contain high levels but this varies between regions. Pilot whals are amongst the worst, minkes whale are amongst the best (especially from the southern ocean). We have enjoyed the scabbard fish here he adds.

Based on pollution levels Norwegians can enjoy many whale meat dishes per week and there are many health benefits to eating whales.

The UK shares Monaco’s concerns and notes many new compounds of unknown toxicity are turning up.

The alternate commissioner from Japan says very gently that they are very serious about food safety in his country and the Japanese consumers are sensitive and serious about this. Seafood is no exception. We need good information as UK commissioner has just stated. We need unbiased information. In Japan the almost 80-90% of availability is coming from research activities (or byproduct of research activities). We made checks and like Prof Walloe states, meat is very clean. We keep finding that the level is less than levels of concern. Monitoring contaminants is very important and both JARPA and JARPN produce data. … We also look at the positive aspect of whale meat. Most food has some contamination. If we stop eating foods with residues we, will stop eating. Japan and Iceland have the greatest longevity. Old sharp and smart people in Japan might be correlated with whale meat consumption.

A cool wind is blowing through the magma chamber

Iceland says that all our reference levels are OK for our whale meat.

Korea we have to be concerned about health risks – we take due account of the UK’s intervention – but we need balance and objective approach and a balanced approach. We like the interventions by Iceland and Japan.

Switzerland – we appreciate the delegations that raise this problem and encourage delegations to consider this and study it further.

Denmark – reference has been made to the Faroe Island and we now respond. I have a memo with me on this information from the chief medical officer it puts it in context. Longevity in the Faroe Islands is good. We should not discuss public health more here but we need to try to reduce levels of pollution in the environment and we need a global agreement on mercury via the UN.

Chairman Bill notes that we have had quite a few conferences on this but doesn't elaborate.

A break is called and delegates start to untangle themselves from their cables and ear phoness (no soot today) and rush towards the cakes out on the bridge under the amazing kapok tree. The Northern whaling nations are in the lead (as usual) and the EU is not sure whether or not it should leave the room yet. Probably it will coordinate in a moment.