Posted on April, 10 2000

Nairobi, Kenya - WWF, the conservation organization, today warned that whaling could spiral out of control as it did during the 20th century if the Parties to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) pass Japan and Norway's whale proposals to reopen the international trade in whale meat.

WWF said that the proposed 'downlistings' of some populations of Minke and Gray whales would be playing into the hands of those who wanted to increase whale catches with no real regard for the consequences. A downlisting would encourage 'pirate' whalers to step up unregulated whaling operations. Without a comprehensive system to distinguish between legally traded whale meat and that available from unverified stockpiles, it would be virtually impossible to prevent 'pirate' whalers from catching whales and laundering their meat into the legal trade.

"Any discussion about rules for controlling whaling must take place in the International Whaling Commission. That is the only way to ensure that the disastrous overhunting of whales that occurred throughout the twentieth century can never be repeated," said Cassandra Phillips, WWF's Coordinator for Whales and the Antarctic. "And that is the threat we face if CITES reopens the whalemeat trade now."

CITES rules regulating trade in species listed on Appendix II, require that the exporting country certify that the trade will not endanger the survival of the species. However, when whales are caught in international waters, no country would need to issue an export permit, and importing countries could effectively bypass international scrutiny. A downlisting could in principle therefore allow unregulated whaling by any of the 110 CITES Parties that are not members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

WWF said that the proposed 'downlistings' of some populations of Minke and Gray whales would contradict previous CITES rulings. Accepting the proposals would also undermine the work of the IWC, the global body responsible for the management and conservation of the world's whales.

"It is the IWC's job to decide on the rules for the hunting of whales," Cassandra Phillips added. "CITES is only concerned with international trade, and you can't have trade before you have hunting. That is one of the reasons why it is simply not appropriate for CITES to consider opening up trade in whales before the IWC has put in place a management scheme."

For further information:

Cassandra Phillips: tel: + 254 2 333 233, fax: 254 2 229 388

Kyla Evans: tel: + 254 2 333 233, fax: 254 2 229 388

Notes to Editors:

1. Norway and Japan are the only two countries that continue to sidestep the International Whaling Commission's ban on whaling. During 1999, a total of 1078 whales were taken by Norway and Japan.

2. Norway and Japan are proposing "downlisting" four populations of minke and gray whales from CITES Appendix I (which forbids international trade) to Appendix II (which allows controlled trade).

3. A Video News Release on whales and CITES is available from WWF. Contact: Tanya Petersen, tel: +41 22 364 9565, email: tpetersen@wwfnet.org