IWMC-World Conservation Trust Condemns Hill’s Sanctuary Diversion

Adelaide, Australia - 4 July 2000: The IWMC World Conservation Trust President Mr. Eugene Lapointe, today condemned Senator Robert Hill’s dreams for a South Pacific Sanctuary as it delivered no real gains for the effective conservation and management of whales.

“The Trust is a leading global conservation advocate.  It rejects all opposition to, and attempts to divert attention away from the immediate implementation of a universal cetacean strategy, including a comprehensive management plan for controlled and limited whaling,” Mr. Lapointe said.

“The South Sanctuary offers no solutions.  The Indian Ocean Sanctuary has been a dismal failure in creating a marine environment for successful conservation,” he said 

“Senator Hill’s proposal is nothing more than a diversion from the proper implementation of the ICRW mandate,” he said.

“It is narrow and inward looking and scoffs at the global challenges that face, what is after all, the “International” Whaling Commission (IWC) Conference,” he said

“The world is now questioning Senator Hill’s motives.  Is it just an attempt to win popular support at home at the expense of a global solution?” he said

“The Trust demands that a global cetacean management plan be ratified by the 52nd IWC Conference which secures cultural and traditional whaling for the future, where the past definition of “commercial” whaling is no longer relevant,” Mr. Lapointe said.�