Illegal Sanctuary Versus Scientific Fact

Monaco, 22 October 1997: At the 49th annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), being held this week in Monaco some observers have commented on an all too familiar pattern: It is clear that the action of the International Whaling Commission to continually prohibit the resumption of limited, regulated whaling is legally contrary to the mandate of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, stated Eugene Lapointe, president of the IWMC World Conservation Trust. 

Lapointe continued his commentary on IWC refusal to allow resumption of limited whaling for human food consumption: This opposition to the harvest of  plentiful whales has nothing to do with science said Lapointe, adding that the actions are apparently driven by the cultural preferences of the animal rights movement.  Lapointe lamented that IWC voting has repeatedly ignored the intent of the Convention, which is, to support the conservation of whales and the orderly development of the whaling industry”.   Lapointe mentioned that IWC decisions must be based on scientific advice, yet it appears “..this has seldom been the case. “ 

A number of observers at IWC feel some actions and decisions are actually illegal under the terms of the convention.  Mr. Lapointe cited, as examples, the 1982 whale harvest moratorium, which phased out all hunting by 1986.  The biological impact of this was supposed to be assessed  “by 1990 at the latest,” an action that clearly contemplated the resumption of limited harvest of whales.  Lapointe noted that, “not only was the moratorium implemented contrary to  Scientific Committee advice, it has continued in spite of that Committee’s assurances that stocks of minke whales are so abundant no harm would come to them from limited, regulated harvest.” 

In addition to the questionable legality of the moratorium, Lapointe notes, “The creation by IWC of the Southern Ocean Sanctuary, also without the support of the Scientific Committee, is clearly an illegal act not based on ‘scientific findings’ as required by the ICRW.” 

Lapointe noted that the continued efforts of the majority of IWC delegates to block any resumption of whaling, are not only illegal but “sadly, have resulted in an international loss of respect for the IWC process in general, because it has ignored its own conservation directives, while at the same time, violating the sovereign rights of its own Parties.”