Society

Bid to resume commercial whaling rejected

Sep 15 (NHK) - The International Whaling Commission has voted down a proposal by Japan to resume commercial whaling of some species.

The proposal was put to a vote at the IWC's biennial general meeting in Florianopolis, Brazil, on Friday. It was the last day of the conference, which began on Monday.

Japan's delegation said data obtained through the country's research whaling show that stocks of minke whales and some other species have recovered since the commission suspended commercial whaling in 1988.

Norway and Iceland were among 27 countries that voted in favor of the proposal. There were 41 countries that voted against it, including Australia and members of the European Union.

Japan's state minister of fisheries, Masaaki Taniai, suggested Japan might consider leaving the commission.

He said that if anti-whaling countries deny commercial whaling despite scientific evidence, there would be a fundamental and intolerable difference in understanding within the IWC.

He also said the commission has not lived up to its original purpose, and has become a forum to discuss the conservation of whales only.

Taniai said sustainable use of whale stocks is not incompatible with their conservation. He added that Japan could undertake a fundamental reassessment of its position as a member of the IWC.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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