IWC59 2007
Report from IWC59 2007 Anchorage, Alaska
International Whaling Commission
Anchorage, Alaska, May 2007
This year the IWC was hold in Anchorage, Alaska a quiet place crowded with fur, pelts, ivory, very nice local people and a very tight security surrounded the IWC meetings.
The usual suspects were there on both sides: The like minded (the whale friends), and the others (whalers) and their friends from the Caribean and Africa who go there to vote for Japan and the whalers.
This year for the whale side got new countries assisting:
Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, Slovenia, Cyprus, Ecuador were the new pro-whale countries that joined the IWC and Costa Rica and Peru renewed their memberships an joined this IWC 59th.
Laos was new too but for the other side. Guinnea- Bissau joined the pro-whaling countris bloc during the IWC.
In brief, these were the major results:
The South Atlantic Proposal for a whale sanctuary (from Argentina, Brazil and South Africa), that will be from Ecuador to the South, was rejected.
The bowhead quota for Alaska's native peoples received consensus approval at the International Whaling Commission. Of the total, 260 will be reserved for Alaskans, while 20 will be allocated for Russian whaling populations.
- Bowhead whales of the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas Stock (taken by native people of Alaska and Chukotka)A total of up to 280 bowhead whales can be landed in the period 2008 - 2012, with no more than 67 whales struck in any year (and up to 15 unused strikes may be carried over each year).
(2) Eastern North Pacific gray whales
A total catch of 620 whales is allowed for the years 2008 - 2012 with a maximum of 140 in any one year.(3) Humpback whales taken by St Vincent and The Grenadines
For the seasons 2008-2012 the number of humpback whales to be taken shall not exceed 20.
The IWC voted to give Denmark permission to kill 25 more minke whales for a total of 200 off Greenland, including 2 Bowhead whales and Denmark's demand on behalf of Greenland to kill 10 Humpback whales was rejected.
Japan's request for limited minke whale hunts by coastal communities failed
Closer work between the IWC and CITES were recommended.
The IWC passed a resolution that reaffirmed the need to maintain the Moratorium on commercial whaling and called on CITES to maintain its restrictions on the whale trade.
Great news: Yokohama will not hold the IWC 2009, but it will be in Madeira in Portugal. Congratulations Portugal !
The Japanese had a big promotion campaign, but Portugal requested first to hold it and they got it.
Japan gave treats of renouncing the IWC as usual.... but they are still there.
Thank You !
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