Few days remains to the 60 th IWC Plenary meeting Santiago de Chile, June 20, 2008
Next Monday 23 rd the Plenary meeting is going to begin. Although in previous press releases we have had the opportunity to contact you to let you know about the initiation of other instances of this meeting, as is the case of the Scientific Committee, at this stage is when issues directly related to the conservation and management measures of cetaceans will be discussed. Those issues will be decided by consensus or by voting, by government delegates present at meeting.
From next Monday on, the now 80 IWC's member countries (Republic of Congo has recently joined the Convention), will be meeting, along with several international and national NGOs which will participate as observers, and will have their eyes placed on the measures that those countries agreed.
One of the challenges that will face government delegates, will be the development of the discussion on proposals relating to the future of the IWC (a process by means of which, members pretend the modernisation of the Convention since its last real update was in the decade of 1950) in addition to other issues already known for the controversy generated within this meeting, such as scientific whaling, aboriginal subsistence whaling quotas and the creation of sanctuaries.
This year, the Latin American region will enjoy some prominence, not only because of the position that since some years ago the Latin bloc, consolidated in the so-called Buenos Aires Group, has maintained (known for its position in favour of the conservation and non-lethal use of cetaceans), and the fact that this year the meeting takes place in Chile, but also because this has allowed the attendance of many Latin NGOs, more than those that usually participate in such meetings, which will have an opportunity to show the world the interest in this issue, not only at the governmental level but also by the civil society.
When asked about their expectations for the meeting, Vanesa Tossenberger of Fundación Cethus said: "probably the most controversial issue during the meeting will be the aboriginal subsistence whaling quotas", on the other hand she added: "it would be of vital importance to continue considering the sanctuaries, as a legal tool for the conservation of whales and dolphins, as well as to demonstrate that the non-lethal use of cetaceans is the basis, not only for their conservation but also for the economic advantages for the coastal communities, and countries in general. "
While we wait the beginning of the IWC Plenary, from Santiago de Chile, we promise to continue keeping you abreast of what is happening in this important meeting.
