IWC 60 Day 4

So here it is – the request to open up a new hunt of humpback whales in the North Atlantic for Greenland.

Denmark/Greenland is given the floor to introduce their request. The Commissioner notes that they have been asked to indulge in horse-trading – hence Denmark/Greenland are prepared, on a voluntary basis, to reduce their hunt by 8 fin whales. The private commissioners meeting earlier looked at this he adds. Can we adopt this proposal now by consensus?

Slovenia (for the EU) says we welcome the report of the Aboriginal Subsistence Committee and the EU in general supports aboriginal subsistence where whale stocks are not compromised and the precautionary principle applied. Takes should meet recognized subsistence needs. They take note of the SC advice that the take would not harm the stock. However, looking at the needs issues, the EU does not support the request for this quota. They regret the current situation and call on Denmark to work intersessionally on this matter. European member states may, he adds, also speak on their own behalf.

The Chairman now says that he regrets that we have come to this point. He hopes it will not spoil the progress that has been made.

He moves now to give the floor to NAMMCO (a prowhaling non-governmental organization).

Point of order: Russia says you must open this matter for discussion and observers should come last.

Russia is given the floor: yesterday, he says, we gave you a medieval story now we see the same here – the EU has taken a decision. History repeats itself. Europe does not need science. Am I correct that in the goals of normalization that we should liquidate the Scientific Committee?

We are up against the wall. Your efforts for normalization have been halted and for political reasons a block has been formed and all scientific aspects are useless. All the country interests here are divided by political interests. Aboriginal matters should be adopted only by consensus. I regret the confrontation here as begun by the European Union.

St Kits and Nevis says this is very unfortunate… he is concerned that we are denying the rights of marginal people to eat.

Are we going back to the future. Today is a sad day … human rights, denying them the prospect of feeding themselves in the harsh winter … are we asking them to migrate into the cities of Europe and beg for food.

St Vincent and the Grenadines talks of food security, and coastal whaling communities, and best scientific advice. They commend Greenland for withdrawing the humpback proposal last year so it could be looked at this year… he continues at some length.

Korea says this is a critical issue for the future of the IWC – he says he has discussed this in the private commissioners’ meeting. This is the body entrusted to manage large cetaceans NOT the European Union. Only this body is authorized… this kind of interference with the legitimate process is against the rule of law that has been enthusiastically endorsed here. [He is gradually getting louder] This is transgressing our basic principles, only member states can make their views – not the European Union… politics prevail. [Very loud now]. There is no place for the EU in this organization in relationship to speaking or writing rights. The EU’s action violates humanitarian law… he asks the EU to refrain from interfering.

Chairman – may I remind commissioners that we are speaking of the Greenland proposal.

St Lucia – associates with the Russian federation. What is the point of the Scientific Committee.., we are only looking at ten years. During this time the Committee can do more work… Greenland has compromised with the fin whales. … I said in the private commissioner’s meeting we are playing God. The EU recognized the advice, the needs and the regulation of whaling. Greenland has fulfilled the requirements of the Commission. [She continues at some length.]

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Chile says we support and continue to support Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling – in the debate this morning this right is not in question or challenged. With regard to the proposal itself, the Latin America countries have concerns about the needs and note that the Scientific Committee advice is interim and ad hoc. In light of these elements the Latin Countries will ‘OPPOSE’ this proposal.

He continues, we regret that this matter is causing division. I want to put my money where my mouth is – as a contribution to a positive environment. We will not ask for action on the South Atlantic Sanctuary. We would however like to show a video but not ask for action.

Other speakers follow and then we come to the UK – he says he sometimes wonders why we have private commissioners meetings – we have been through all this before – the EU has the right to operate as a block, Nothing is taken away from the right of member states He then adds ‘I would like to disabuse my Russian colleague, and as I said in the private meeting the EU did not arrive at its position on the Greenland proposal before we came here and we were still discussing it this morning. We have debated at considerable length. We have sadly concluded that Denmark does not meet the necessary requirements and I am sad that we come to this point.

Iceland this will be a sad day for his organization. This issue has generally not been a disputed one. Greenland has been willing to compromise but this has not been accepted. Parties are backing away from previously agreed needs. The SC has told us this is problem… he supports Demark and says that the process we have agreed is being ‘harpooned’.

Others follow. We shall select a few that do not just follow what has been already said.

Japan [in the form of alternate commissioner Morishita] says slowly that he feels the pain of the people of Greenland… and he feels anger. He says this is a direct attack on our organization. He associates with St Lucia. I used to teach little kids and I would give this report ‘F minus or zero’ [presumably he means the comments from the EU.]

The existence of this organization is at stake. He supports the proposal.

Germany agrees with the UK and EU – he highly appreciates the work of the Scientific Committee and that we only have interim advice. He would have preferred that the decision should have been postponed.

My condolences on the demise of your initiative says one speaker to the Chair.

France does not accept Korea’s interpretation. Nor does he accept the rhetoric of many delegations about this matter – ‘we are only doing our work’ – there are reasons for opposition [and he details then].

Norway starts to speak but is stopped by the Chair because cameramen are scuttling about the room. The Chairman has to ask them twice to go back to their allotted stand. A Chilean security official eventually moves them on.

Norway too is sad and notes that the Chair’s process is threatened.

Slovenia says they have taken notice of the Scientific Committee, they do not undermine its work, they believe science is crucial and there are other requirements that need to be fulfilled. The EU is committed to the rights of indigenous peoples. In this specific year the information needs to be updated and reassessed before the quota proposed can be agreed.

With respect to the matters raised about the functioning of the EU. A written statement has been provided but I will repeat a few things, adds Slovenia, Slovenia holds the presidency and hence we speak to this meeting as such. The EC has only an observer status here. The member states remain the parties – in line with IWC rules.

The Chair now finally calls NAMMCO to the microphone – they remind us who they are and go over the arguments again.

Korea comes loudly to the floor again to harangue the EU. Amongst other things he asks if it has been agreed in advance that we have given speaking rights to the EC.

[A long lunch follows. Many delegates sit in the surprising warm winter sun. That vote is still coming. The lives of ten humpbacks blow in the breeze.]

Denmark asks the Chair of the Scientific to clarify a point.

Arne Bjorge comments that last year we had a problem with ad hoc advice – we were asked to provide safe interim advice – and as stated In our report – page 21 – we now provide safe interim advice and this can be used for up to 2 block quotas by which time a full Strike Limit Algorithm will be developed. See page 29: there we report that the agreed approach strikes of up to 10 humpbacks will not harm the stock/

Argentina [the distinguished alternate commissioner]: I have a question for the Chair of the SC – from what we understand in the documents presented on other occasions [he lists weights of meat derived from whales] but Greenland has explained that their needs cover both blubber and meat – only meat is in the current document (blubber and other edible products are not included). So we seek the advice of the Scientific Committee on the yield.

Chairman Hogarth: Does this affect your vote this year or can you await the reply next year.

Next year will be fine says Argentina kindly,

The Secretary now starts the vote from where we left off last time with St Vincent and the Grenadines who say Yes.

[We will just select a few to report here (the pattern is mainly predictable).]

South Africa Abstain

Switzerland Yes

USA Yes

China Yes

Gambia is absent.

Republic of Guinea is absent.

Iceland – Yes

Indian – No

Japan – Yes

Korea – Yes

Laos – Yes

Luxembourg -No

[The floor is shaking a little.]

Morocco – abstain.

Oman – Yes

Finally the vote ends.

There is a pause whilst the Secretary counts and then she announces the result:

29 for 36 against 2 abstentions. The proposal FAILS.

Some countries then speak to explain their vote.

The US says it would have preferred that Denmark should withdraw its proposal – we do not wish to break with precedent and not take the advice of the Scientific Committee. Whilst other parties raised concerns about needs this should be addressed via the Aboriginal Subcommittee next year.

Mexico: we have a large population that uses indigenous resources so we understand this situation – the Scientific Committee is not deciding the level but responding to need and we do not have a clear explanation from Denmark.

Based on the clarification from the Chair of the Scientific Committee we had to change our position says Switzerland.

St Kitts and Nevis says a dark cloud sits over the Chair’s attempts at normalization.

Costa Rica agrees with the Scientific Committee but opposed on the social aspects.

Nicaragua notes it is a multi-cultural nation and they respect in principle aboriginal whaling.

Denmark says they will respect the vote but they will come back next year. They are saddened by the positions taken especially as the science is on their side. He passes the microphone to Greenland – ‘the case of humpback whale is not finished’ they will come back next year and if not successful then, the year after. She regrets that the IWC cannot fulfill its requirement when all matters have been adequately covered by Greenland. She concludes by saying that the Chair’s aims to reform the organization will probably not succeed. She had never seen such serious disrespect to the scientific committee.

Whales are predators and they are eating the EU fisheries quota. People back home will be very upset and will urge Greenland to rethink its relationship with the EU in respect of fishing.

Korea tries to take the floor.

The Chair says Greenland was supposed to have the last word but Korea persists and says he is encouraged by the words of the US in particular.

The item is closed and 50 humpbacks continue to swim free of a hunt in the North Atlantic.

Sanctuaries pops up.

Nothing was submitted to the Scientific Committee says its Chair.

Brazil now presents a film on the South Atlantic Sanctuary. It starts with a ‘whale crier’ from Hermanus, South Africa, speaking about whale watching. Others from around the region follow speaking about the benefits that live whales bring to their regions and coastal communities.

When it is finished, there is applause from many (but not all) parties.

Comments follow.

Spain is leading in the football two zero says Russia [there is much laughter] and then goes on to note that Brazil and Peru are hunting whales with cameras. He asks are they hunting small cetaceans too and wonders if the sanctuary is only for large whales.

Many countries speak in support of the notion of a sanctuary. China and some others are not so sure. China finds there to be a lack of scientific support.

[Although no proposal is going to be put to the vote – many speeches follow].

Eventually Brazil takes the floor again and also congratulates Spain – it is three nil in the football now.

Brazil says with respect to the ‘images conjured up by his Russian colleague’ that he may have been away from home too long. Hunting cetaceans is illegal in Brazil and with regards to the Boto (The Amazon river dolphin) efforts detailed in the Scientific Committee report are underway. Enforcement activities are being increased and they will report more to the next meeting. He invites his ‘Russian colleague’ to visit Brazil to see conservation in action.

We move slowly to catches by Non-Member countries. There is no paper and no comments.

We move to infactions. Switzerland chaired this – 21 member states attended.

There were no infractions reported in Greenland, Korea did have some and 5 unresolved infractions by Greenland were still not reported on.

Austria comments on the US’s high struck and loss rate and asks the US why it has not reported one event – the take of a gray whale - as an infraction. The US gives a legal interpretation.

France says that the illegal hunting of 14 minke whales in Korea is too high and how will Korea put an end to this illegal hunting?

Korea says that they are concerned about this. For this matter the government has been conducting strict surveillance and he details this.

The Chair then thanks all the sub-committees for their work.

Where are we with the Climate Change Workshop funding enquires the chair.

Luxembourg takes the floor to report that, thanks to the generous commitments from Australia, the USA and Germany, as well as WWF and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society we seem to close to our target and the workshop is now moving along.

Chairman Hogarth moves to close and thanks all the chairs of the working groups. He will start the meeting at 9am tomorrow… then close it for a private meeting as quickly as he can.