June 19th 2009 - Cethus at the 61th IWC meeting

Few days before the beginning of the next International Whaling Commission (IWC) Plenary annual meeting, there are many doubts about the direction that this meeting will take.

Amid the current situation of review about its future, in which the International Whaling Commission is, and the global financial crisis, we have managed to reach Portugal.

The next International Whaling Commission´s Plenary annual meeting will be held between next 22nd and 26th June and will have as host Madeira Island - Portugal.

At present and since last year, the IWC is immersed in a process called the Future of the IWC by which it tries to carry out a review, and to reach an agreement, on issues that have been key since its inception, and that have led to a strong internal division between those in favor and against commercial whaling.

To date, the moratorium on commercial whaling remains intact since it was agreed in 1982 coming into effect in 1986. However, pro-whaling countries, including Japan, Iceland and Norway continue to press the IWC to make some concessions that could generate background to reverse the moratorium on commercial whaling.

Although since the beginning of June, several meetings corresponding to different instances of the IWC have been conducted, such as the Scientific Committee, the Infractions Sub-Committee, the Subcommittee on Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling meetings, etc., from 22th June the Plenary Meeting will be held during which Member States of this Commission will discuss various proposals.

Some of the trouble points that are expected to arise during the meeting, are related not only with historical issues which usually divide the Commission such as Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling quotas, Scientific Whaling Programmes, Sanctuaries, and particularly all those issues related with the proposal on the Future of the IWC.

This year, Fundación Cethus will participate in this event as an Observer NGO, represented by Vanessa Tossenberger, who will keep us abreast of what is happening there.

For more information about IWC:
www.cethus.org
www.iwcoffice.org