Little commitment to protecting whales

2003/06/20 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Arrantza
• Ekologia

The International Whale Fishing Commission held its annual meeting in Berlin from 16 to 19 June.

Other proposals were the exhaustive follow-up of fishing whaling and the creation of two whale shelters in the South Pacific and Atlantic. Although the peoples who promoted these proposals believed that they would move forward, it has not been so. The strongest rivals have been Japan, Norway and Iceland, the three whalers, who have received the support of many island nations.

In addition, the confrontation has not been lacking and Japan repeatedly threatens to leave the Commission.

After the meeting, some say that whales are no longer protected than before, but at least small cetaceans are in a better position. So far, only the big whales, which are the target of the fishermen, were taken into account, and now they have also pledged to investigate and protect the small whales, dolphins and mazopas.