Brussels, 22/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament fisheries committee wants better protection for whales, noting that the number of whales killed, under special licences (for research purposes) has increased since the International Whaling Commission (IWC) introduced its moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986. The report by Elspeth Attwooll (ALDE, UK) on Community action on whaling was adopted by the EP fisheries committee on Wednesday 21 January by 22 votes to 2, with no abstentions. The debate on the report will be held in the EP plenary session in Brussels on 18-19 February.
The present moratorium applies only to commercial whaling. In addition to the exception for aboriginal whaling, scientific research can be undertaken under special permits which are issued by the country undertaking the research. Not all members of the International Whaling Commission have signed up to the moratorium so commercial whaling still takes place. A recent study by the International Union for Conservation of Nature found that almost one in four cetacean (whale, dolphin and porpoise) species are currently regarded as under threat, with nine species listed as either endangered or critically endangered. Since the introduction of the moratorium, however, some species, in particular great whales, have recovered somewhat. It would appear that the meat from the whales slaughtered for “scientific” purposes is made commercially available.
In adopting the Attwooll report, the EP fisheries committee calls for discussions within the IWC working group to eliminate the slaughter of whales for scientific purposes. The fisheries committee says it accepts that a limited quota for communities that have traditionally hunted whales for food has to be accepted, but calls for much greater emphasis on research into, and the use of “more humane killing methods”. The committee calls for any such hunting to take place only with clear quotas and under strict controls. They also recommend: - the establishment, in suitable locations around the world, of more Marine Protected Areas in which whales would receive special protection; - the use of more selective fishing gear to avoid by-catches of other species, particularly cetaceans; - measures (outside the protected areas) to protect cetaceans from threats arising from climate change, pollution, ship strikes, fishing gear, anthropogenic ocean noise (such as sonars) and other hazards. (L.C./transl.rt)