Commissie roept lidstaten op tot veroordeling Japanse walvisvaart (en)

The European Commission i expresses once again its concern over Japanese whaling and supports the call for a strong stance against scientific whaling. The images that have been flashing on television screens across the world are a reminder of how some countries continue to flout the international ban on the hunting of whales under the guise of scientific research. The Member States of the European Union i must act in unison to protect whales. The European Commission calls on EU Member States to agree on a common position on the protection of whales before the next meeting of the International Whaling Commission in June 2008 as proposed by the Commission in December 2007. Such a common position would reinforce greatly the European Union's efforts to protect whales.

Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas i said: "The graphic images on our television screens bring home the reality of whale hunting. This shows that more than ever the EU needs to be united in opposing whaling. I call on Member States to reach a common position to reinforce the efforts to protect whales."

Commission Borg added: "Whales are protected by the International Whaling Commission and European Union law. Scientific research must not be used as a cover for continued whaling."

Japan continues to undermine efforts to protect whales

In November 2007 ( IP/07/1736 ) the European Commission expressed its concern over Japanese plans to kill up to 1000 minke, fin and humpback whales in the South Pacific. It is now clear to the world that Japan continues to undermine international efforts to conserve and protect whales despite the International Whaling Commission (IWC) repeatedly urging Japan to refrain from hunting whales.

The fin and humpback whales are classified as "endangered" and "vulnerable" species by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). There is a serious risk that Japanese whaling will undermine the long-term viability of these species.

The European Commission urges Japan - once again - to reconsider its decision and stop the hunt. The International Community must find a comprehensive solution to whaling. The Commission calls on the members of the International Whaling Commission to fully adhere to the 1986 whaling moratorium. The Commission emphasises that there is no need to use lethal means to obtain scientific information about whales, and that adequate data for management purposes can be obtained using non-lethal techniques.

A unified EU position

The European Commission is working to coordinate European efforts to protect whales, but as the European Union is not yet a party to the IWC the European Commission cannot negotiate on behalf of EU Member States.

European Union law on whaling is very clear. It is not allowed in EU waters. Under EU environmental law all whale species are protected from deliberate disturbance, capture or killing within EU waters and all Member States in the European Union are obliged to observe these laws. The EU is not opposed to aboriginal peoples whaling for their subsistence - as allowed under the IWC Convention - provided it falls within the confines of catch limits based on scientific advice. This is the case for the aboriginal peoples of Greenland which are allowed to hunt fin and minke whales. But the Commission condemns whaling disguised as scientific research as carried out by Japan.

Whales are highly migratory species. If whaling is only banned in EU waters but not everywhere else in the world then such a ban can have only a limited effect on the well-being of whale species. This is why the international ban on commercial whaling must stay and why all EU Member States party to the IWC must oppose any move seeking to lift it. We need to move towards more international protection of whales rather than less.

Background

In December 2007 the Commission presented a Communication designed to establish an effective international regulatory framework on the hunting of whales which would also cover scientific whaling. Accordingly, the Communication states that the moratorium remains of central importance but stresses the need to take a comprehensive approach to address other aspects such as scientific whaling.

With this Communication the Commission intends to underline the urgent need for the EU to act as a united major player in international whaling policy. The European Union has not yet been able to use its political weight within the IWC because of the lack of a coordinated and agreed EU position. Together with the Communication the Commission also presented a proposal for a Council Decision in support of continuing the moratorium and to encourage the collection of scientific data on whales using non lethal methods.