London Forum Could End Scientific Bloodbath
Sun Herald
Sunday March 2, 2008
AUSTRALIA will push the International Whaling Commission meeting in London this week to mount scientific research of whales so Japan can stop killing the mammals in the name of science, Environment Minister Peter Garrett said yesterday.
Mr Garrett said Australia and other countries should collaborate with whaling nations to conduct scientific research on whales that involves preserving them, not killing them."We believe it is time to bring the IWC into the 21st century, equipping the commission to tackle contemporary challenges in whale conservation and management," he said.The London meeting will pave the way for the annual general meeting in Chile in June at which Australia will lead the campaign to stop Japan from killing whales in the Southern Ocean.Mr Garrett said the IWC should introduce conservation plans that protect whales not only from hunters but also climate change, fisheries activities, marine pollution, habitat disturbance and collisions with ships.He said scientific research on whales should be brought under the authority of the IWC with agreed priorities and criteria for research to put an end to countries granting themselves the right to kill whales for science.
© 2008 Sun Herald