The WWF charity has greeted the International Whaling Commission climate change resolution with concern after failing to make decisions on contentious whaling issues. The 61st meeting of the 85 member countries of the IWC unanimously agreed to adopt a resolution on climate change, though have set aside many major decisions until later in the year.
Though many key whaling issues were not decided, prominent discussions were engaged about the need for extra protection of smaller whales, such as dolphins and porpoises. The WWF report ‘Small Cetaceans: The Forgotten Whales’, states that small whales are disappearing from the world’s oceans due to fishing gear and pollution. With climate change a major a key threat to whales, the WWF is urging governments to commit to reducing their carbon emissions at the UN Climate meeting in Copenhagen in December.
WWF-UK Species Trade and Policy Officer, Heather Sohl –
This is a very positive development that will help ensure that climate negotiations take into account impacts on biodiversity. However, members did not take action that would stop commercial whaling outside of IWC regulation, which is a fundamental problem that the IWC must address-and which continues today.It is time for the IWC to build on these commitments, to become a modern 21st century convention, and to dedicate itself to the conservation of all whales, great and small.
