Sorrento, Italy, 21 July 2004: IWMC today condemned the IWC for its dereliction of duty for failing to fully take into account the welfare of traditional small scale whalers during its annual meeting in Sorrento. The IWC rejected a catch quota for the coastal whalers, while approving a resolution recognizing their plight.

The so-called "small-type" whaling in Japan is based in four small coastal communities - Taiji, Wada, Ayukawa and Abashiri. Under Article V of the international convention that established the International Whaling Commission (IWC) over 50 years ago, members of the organization are obliged to "take into consideration the interests of the consumers of whale products and the whaling industry" when setting annual catch quotas.

The IWC has prevented these communities from undertaking commercial catches of minke whales since the mid-1980s despite the fact that its Scientific Committee has agreed there are around 25,000 off the north east coast of Japan. By contrast, the IWC allows the United States to catch endangered bowhead whales off Alaska from a population of around 9,000, drawing criticism of "double standards".

The IWC has repeatedly rejected proposals from Japan for an interim relief quota to relieve the stress caused to these communities.

Eugene Lapointe, President of IWMC, said: "It is quite remarkable that the IWC has neglected for so long the plight of traditional coastal communities that have no stake in the wider international whaling debate. It is preposterous to imagine that a group of family-owned businesses owning nine small boats, and fishing no more than 30 miles from Japan's coastline, could have any impact on world whale stocks."

Japan is the only country denied a quota by the IWC for hunting whales within its own waters. Prior to the moratorium, its small-type whalers together harvested around 300 minke whales annually. Minke whales are an ultra-abundant species, with a worldwide population estimated at around one million animals.

Coastal whaling in Japan is critical to a local culture and tradition that dates back to the Jomon period 5,000 years ago. Japan's traditional whalers share similar social, cultural, dietary and spiritual characteristics to the American Inupiat that hunt bowhead whales.

Mr. Lapointe said: "The IWC is arrogantly failing to live up to its responsibilities by ignoring the real hardships suffered in these communities. At a stroke, it could provide them with the quotas they deserve and restore their dignity, without having any detrimental impact on whale populations." 

For further information, contact Eugène Lapointe
Florida: +1(727) 734-4949 or email: iwmc@iwmc.org