Posted on May, 03 2000

Gland, Switzerland - WWF, the conservation organization, today condemned the Japanese Government's reported plan to catch 50 Bryde and 10 Sperm whales in the North Pacific for the first time since an international ban on whaling was introduced in 1986.

The Japanese move, which was reported by the Kyodo news agency today, comes only two weeks after the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) rejected Japan's proposal to open up international trade in Minke and Gray whales. It also flies in the face of the world-wide moratorium on whaling, established by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1986.

"The Japanese Government is showing a flagrant disregard for world opinion, by proposing an escalation of whaling outside international control," said Cassandra Phillips, WWF's Coordinator for Whales and the Antarctic. "WWF believes if whaling is ever authorized it must be under an IWC management scheme."

For the last 13 years, Japan has exploited a loophole in the IWC's rules and has conducted 'scientific whaling' for Minke whales in both the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary around Antarctica and the north Pacific. This is the first time however that they have planned to catch other species of whale since the IWC's moratorium came into effect.

"From a scientific point of view, there is absolutely no justification for this move. We therefore appeal to the Japanese government to listen to international opinion and withdraw this plan," Cassandra Phillips added.

For further information:
Cassandra Phillips: tel: + 44 1386 882 055, email: cphillips@wwfint.org
Kyla Evans: + 41 22 364 95 50, email: kevans@wwfint.org