During this week, in response to the beginning of the new season of "scientific whaling" in Antarctic waters by Japan, governments of the Latin American countries that comprise the Buenos Aires Group (GBA),  once again urged the government of that country to end this kind of activity.

The GBA, which consists of countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Uruguay, is a bloc of member countries of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) that was created in 2005 with the aim of coordinating policies to promote whale conservation and a non-lethal use of them.

This year, as we mentioned in previous notes (for more information see December 2010 newsletter),Japan started later its whaling season but, nevertheless it boasts about having captured a share of about 1,000 whales of different species, including fin whale, considered as an endangered species.

In these circumstances, the GBA released a statement in which it openly rejects this kind of killing that is carried out annually in Antarctic waters (which are part of the Southern Ocean Sanctuary, a sanctuary designated by the IWC). In this statement, the GBA also "reaffirms its commitment to conservation, maintenance of the commercial moratorium that is in force since 1986, promotion of non-lethal use of cetaceans and respect for the integrity of whale sanctuaries."

Fundación Cethus supports this statement requesting the cessation of scientific whaling programs, and makes emphasis on the non-lethal use of cetaceans.