Deadlock likely to emerge at Whaling Commission, says Carter

Chris Carter

Conservation Minister Chris Carter today described a meeting of the International Whaling Commission as "very tense" and believes a deadlock will emerge over the next 24 hours between voting blocks.

Japan lost two separate votes -- described as a setback in its long-term drive to overturn a two-decade-old international ban on whaling -- at a gathering on the Caribbean island state of St Kitts and Nevis today.

Japan and other pro-whaling countries failed to stop the group from discussing the fate of dolphins, porpoises and small whales, which are not covered by the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling but which conservationists say are as threatened as the great whales.

The 32-30 vote against a proposal to remove small cetaceans from was seen as evidence the balance of power remained with environmentalists.

Environmental groups and anti-whaling nations had feared that Tokyo might finally have won enough countries to its side to start challenging the ban, which is credited by all sides with saving great whales from extinction.

But Mr Carter -- who is leading New Zealand's delegation -- said while the losses were significant for Japan, the arrival of voting delegates from Senegal and Gambia -- pro-whaling delegates -- was likely to make the situation deadlocked.

"The two African countries didn't arrive in time for the first two votes, as access here can be difficult, but if they arrive today then its likely to be deadlocked on further votes," Mr Carter said.

The convention was shrouded with a tense atmosphere but a sombre mood which had been prevalent amongst the conservation voting block had lifted considerably after Japan lost the votes, he said.

"It's very tense and we were not sure how the votes would go. The conservation block was very pessimistic at the beginning."

Japan lost the first vote by two votes which Mr Carter said was Japan's attempt to test the support they had amongst the delegates.

The second vote was more significant as Japan tried to introduce secret ballots, he said.

"They lost that one by three votes and the significance of that was the Solomon Islands abstained, which they have never done before."

Mr Carter said he was disappointed the Pacific Island nations continued to support whaling but great efforts had been made to speak with them in the months leading up to the convention to explain the benefits of eco-tourism over whaling.

"In the long-term we are trying to show them how eco-tourism is more sustainable for those Pacific Island nations and for economic development and employment, as opposed to whaling."

Mr Carter said the next 24 hours would see growing diplomatic pressure being exercised by the blocks on other nations.

"The positive part of this is the country's of the Southern Hemisphere are co-operating very strongly."

Brazil in particular had taken a strong leadership role in the issue, he said.

A press conference held this morning saw representatives from Australia, Britain, Brazil, United States of America and New Zealand address the importance of conservation, he said.

- NZPA