The global moratorium on commercial whaling is under threat. The Japanese are pushing for the global ban on whaling to be lifted at a meeting of the International Whaling Commission in a few weeks time.
The threat is even greater because of EU rules that require all EU states to vote with one voice at IWC conferences. Apparently, the Danes are threatening use EU rules to prevent EU states from voting for a continuation of the ban. If a member state votes in a different way, then they risk a fine from the European Court of Justice.
This is barmy and puts arcane rules and regulations ahead of our commitment to preserving the whale population and our commitment to animal welfare.
We should be perfectly clear about this – the global ban on commercial whaling must continue. As this page shows, although there has been some recovery in the whale population of some species. Greenpeace say that:
“The blue whales of the Antarctic are at less than 1 percent of their original abundance, despite 40 years of complete protection. Some populations of whales are recovering but some are not.
Only one population, the East Pacific grey whale, is thought to have recovered to its original abundance, but the closely related West Pacific grey whale population is the most endangered in the world. It hovers on the edge of extinction with just over 100 remaining.”
Commercial whaling led the international whale population to the brink of catastrophe and it must not be allowed to resume. If faced with a choice between our commitments to animal welfare and preserving the whale population and our commitments to the EU, then we must choose animal welfare.
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