Whaling ban must stay, say 200 scientists

[demoleft]

Source: afp

AFP - More than 200 scientists and experts Tuesday called on the International Whaling Commission to maintain its ban on commercial whaling to ensure the future of species depleted by industrial hunting.

"The IWC must not undermine the conservation achievements of the last few decades by again endorsing commercial whaling," they said in a petition.

"There is no evidence that any of the few populations and species known to be increasing have reached, or are anywhere near, the levels that might justify non-zero catch limits."
...
The scientists, from about 30 countries, also called on IWC governments to reject a provision in the chair's proposal that would allow quota-based hunting in the Southern Ocean -- declared a whale sanctuary in 1994 -- over the next 10 years.

Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/20100622-whaling-ban-must-stay-say-200-scientists

---

this is an update of news me and some other duers are following.

"Whaling deal splits countries and conservationists"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4435115

and

"17 nations barred from whaling vote" - by depakid
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4436764

we'll see how it ends.

[flvegan]

1. There will be no winners here, I fear.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but either way the whales are going to lose. If the ban is upheld, the IWC will surely fall apart. Japan, Norway and Iceland (lest the EU get serious about Iceland's bid to join) will continue to whale as they wish. If the ban is lifted, the IWC can impose all the rules that it wants and these nations will still whale, because there is no enforcement.

I stay in the "all whaling vessels sunk in harbor" camp.

[xchrom]

2. no whaling. nt

[wordpix]

3. yah, that's good---go hunting in the whale sanctuary

:sarcasm: :puke: That'll be an excellent "compromise." :sarcasm:

[SunnySong]

4. I am in favor of a whaling ban but as the Gulf spill has shown us

there are greater threats to whales than limited hunting.

Perhaps those looking to save these wonderful animals should broaden their scope a little bit.

[wordpix]

5. you assume our scope is not wide? Like we want polluted oceans for the whales, fish and birds?

c'mon, get with the program, please!

[SunnySong]

10. I am with the program. Protecting sea life just doesn't mean attacking whaling nations.

It means going after EU countries that consistently fish endangered species and destroy habitats.

[wordpix]

12. of course, but we're talking whales here

Can't get too far afield

[SunnySong]

13. I agree but pollution destroy the whales food sources and sonar throwing off thier mating calls

are as much a danger to population as hunting . Thats what I am trying to impart.

[LaurenG]

6. Limited hunting is a misnomer as flvegan stated up-thread

They aren't limiting themselves and/or no one can enforce the limits.

[SunnySong]

9. I agree we should ban all hunting, but hunting is not the reason some whales

appear on endangered species lists. we should focus on loss of habitat (for birthing in particular), use of sonar and food sources.

[LaurenG]

14. I agree with that.. nt

[Doremus]

7. Perfect logic. The Gulf of Mexico is polluted, therefore whaling is good.

Makes sense to me!

:sarcasm:

[SunnySong]

8. As I stated above I am in favor of a whaling ban. nt

[DirkGently]

11. Haha, Japan.

[depakid]

15. Let's see if the Obama administrations stands with the scientists

and stands by its campaign promise.