Australia Proposes Whale Sanctuary in South Pacific Ocean

Back to Map Page July, 1998 Canberra, Australia On August 19 Australia announced its intent to propose a no-whaling zone throughout the southern Pacific Ocean. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs promised to make this proposal at an August meeting of the South Pacific Forum in Pohnpei (part of the Federated States of Micronesia). Australia then plans to bring its proposal to the 1999 annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), an international body that regulates whaling worldwide. In combination with a similar plan by Brazil for the southern Atlantic Ocean, this proposal could ultimately extend the safe zone for whales throughout the southern hemisphere. Opposition to the proposal is expected from whaling countries, principally Japan and Norway. The South Pacific and South Atlantic sanctuaries would adjoin existing sanctuaries in the Southern Ocean (around Antarctica) and the Indian Ocean. The map at right shows the extent of the Southern Ocean sanctuary, established in 1994 by the IWC. Japan in particular continues to dispute the sanctuaries, and continues to carry out “scientific” whaling in southern seas. The Worldwide Fund for Wildlife and other organizations have reported, however, that whales caught in these scientific expeditions frequently end up in Japanese fish markets. While the extent and use of existing sanctuaries continue to be disputed by whaling nations, other countries of the region enthusiastically support whale protection. This support derives partly from environmentalist concern, and partly from the growth of a lucrative whale-watching tour industry. Australia is reported to earn US$22 million per year from these tours, and whales are also an important component of New Zealand’s tourism economy. The South Pacific Sanctuary proposal follows other recent whale-conservation steps in Australia, including laws passed last March to extend legal protection to the last two unprotected Australian whale species, Sei and Fin whales. Australia has also played a key role in monitoring the existing Southern Ocean sanctuary. The IWC is an international consortium of countries interested in managing whale populations and fisheries. In 1987 the IWC established an international moratorium on commercial whaling, but moratorium rules allow some continued whaling for cultural and scientific purposes. In related news, Canada has recently contradicted its previous support of whaling bans by sanctioning whaling by native peoples in the Canadian Arctic. In July and August Inuit and Inuvialuit villages on the Canadian Arctic coast succeeded in landing two bowhead whales. International conservation groups strongly criticized the decision, but native organizations argue whaling is an important cultural tradition. Hunting of smaller whales, including belugas and narwhals, is already permitted in the region. To read more, see Environmental Science, A Global Concern, Cunningham and Saigo, 5th ed. Whales and seals, hunting and conservation: pages 277-78, 280 Environmental Science, Enger and Smith, 6th ed. Whaling and the International Whaling Commission: page 217 For further information, see these related web sites: Information on Pacific whaling from the Worldwide Fund for Nature, New Zealand Back to Map Page feedback form | permissions | international | locate your campus rep | request a review copy digital solutions | publish with us | customer service | mhhe home Copyright ©2001 The McGraw-Hill Companies. Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of the The McGraw-Hill Companies.