IWC Conference Rejects Japan's Whaling Bid

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, May 21, 2002

IWC Conference Rejects Japan's Whaling Bid

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) dealt a further blow to a Japan-led campaign to resume commercial whaling on the second day of its annual conference on Tuesday.

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The International Whaling Commission (IWC) dealt a further blow to a Japan-led campaign to resume commercial whaling on the second day of its annual conference on Tuesday.

Japan's proposal that its four local whaling communities be allowed to catch 50 minke whales as a relief measure until the IWC lifts the 16-year-old moratorium on commercial whaling, was voted down 21 to 20, with three abstentions.

Although the proposal requires a three-quarters majority, Japan had aimed to win a simple majority on the issue to alter the atmosphere at the 54th IWC convention it is hosting in this former whaling town of Shimononseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Before failure of Japan's proposal, Iceland stormed out in protest as its bid for full membership was rejected. An angry Iceland Commissioner Stefan Asmundsson, told the 48-member IWC at the outset of the second day of the five-day gathering: "All attempts not to recognize Iceland as a member of the IWC convention are illegal."

A majority of IWC members voted down Monday the country's bid to rejoin the body because of its reservations about the 1982 moratorium on commercial whaling.

Japan also plans to propose later in the week putting to a votea resolution supporting its so-called "research" whaling programs,from which it gathers its own data.

But many IWC members are expected to lodge strong protests, particularly given that Japan plans to expand one of its two programs to include catches of 50 North Pacific sei whales, considered an endangered species.

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