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After a sweaty lunch of many slow queues we return to the main
hall.
The report of the working group that met last week on whale killing
methods is now considered. This went on for three days and was aimed an
improving the ‘efficiency’ (or humaneness) of hunts. Discussions tended to focus
around the ‘times to death’ of whales taken in both commercial and aboriginal
hunts.
The UK sees the workshop as a success and thanks all those that
took part. The killing of highly sentient animals is an important matter and he
has received many emails from the British public encouraging action on this
matter. He noted the improvements in the Norwegian hunt and that if the RMS is
ever going to be concluded we need to look seriously at this matter. He regrets
that Norway has replaced its whaling inspectors with a blue box [an automated
device that can record some limited information].
The US notes that
there was a meeting of aboriginal hunters ahead of the workshop and that this
was helpful.
St Lucia associates with Denmark and calls for respect for
cultural diversity – people will continue to eat whales no matter what you
do.
New Zealand particularly appreciated the provision of data from
Greenland and Russia and he notes that fin whales that are ten times larger than
those that the weapon being used was intended for.
St Vincent and the
Grenadines associates with St Lucia… he says that they still use traditional
weapons to kill whales and times to death have been reduced to approximately 20
minutes (there are some small gasps from the back of the
room).
Switzerland reminds people that he recommended during the workshop
that people move away from [underpowered] weapons (i.e. rifles) to harpoons as
the primary killing method.
Austria says that he is not so pessimistic
about the workshop – 25 papers were presented and a 27 page was reported. This
shows something! Austria also noted that it is important that this issue should
stay on the agenda for the Commission.
Russia says that last year they
said that they would not participate in the Workshop and that this matter should
be discussed between professionals… he too is not pleased with the workshop but
if Switzerland would really like to improve the hunt he would be pleased to talk
to him.
Luxembourg found the workshop useful.
A few others speak
and then we come to Japan. Japan’s position is that this outside of the IWC
mandate. Up until now they have participated on a voluntary basis. They were
deeply disappointed with the workshop. Some of the members of the workshop have
been ignoring the accumulated knowledge and achievements commended by previous
workshops. The Japanese Commissioner looks forward to normalisation and will be
providing their data to NAMMCO
and others, contributing to normalisation (ah that word again – we were starting
to miss it). With respect to fin whale killing, the penthrite power is increased
to 50g from 30g.
Norway gives a long intervention congratulating the
Chair and the rapporteurs for all their hard work and then went on to list the
improvements that have been made in their hunt over the last two decades, noting
that they have conducted 3 major research projects and presented data from over
5550 minke whales. Norway made the point that they do not believe that whale
killing should be compared with domestic slaughter of livestock, but that we
must remember that whales are wild animals that are free living and therefore we
should compare the killing of whales with the hunting of other
species.
Spain spoke up in association with Luxembourg to express concern
that the Norwegian Blue Box is taking the place of inspectors onboard Norwegian
vessels, which is not able to report on different aspects of the killing of
whales.
Hungary associates with UK and Luxembourg.
Netherlands
notes that all contracting governments should share data in order to improve
killing. Greenland raises several points, including the fact that they note that
they need to address struck and lost in some of their hunts and that they only
participate and provide data on a voluntary basis.
Switzerland says that
he has a great respect for all hunters and it is true that Switzerland has no
experience of whaling but he is a hunter and he has some knowledge of hunting,
so he will be pleased to talk to Russia.
Sweden thinks that submission of
data to other fora, as proposed by Japan, is not the norm – this is not
‘normalisation’ (ah … now someone else uses the word, it seems to be catching on
– probably we shall all be normalised before we leave) and suggest that in fact
submitting data to the IWC should be the norm and he formally asked Japan if it
would reconsider.
And off to afternoon tea…. With no biscuits but perhaps
to make up for this a video featuring dancing ladies – which seems to have
nothing to do with the IWC - is shown during the break, some linger in the room
to enjoy it.
On to the end of 4th day…
We now listen to the
report of the Finance and Administrative Committee and in particular a
discussion about whether the annual meeting… should happen less frequently. The
Spanish Commissioner is keen to meet less frequently and so are lots of
others.
A few other administrative matters are also discussed…. And then
we break!
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