Darren Kindlysides: Why is Tuvalu keen to join whaling body?

COMMENT

The decision by the Pacific Island state of Tuvalu to join the International Whaling Commission looks like another example of the Japanese Government's so-called 'vote-buying' programme.

It is a worrying development for those nations opposed to whaling, of which Australia and New Zealand have been some of the most committed.

The announcement by Tuvalu raises the real spectre that, for the first time in the IWC's recent history, the number of pro-whaling members will outnumber those opposed to whaling.

For ten years Japan has been using its political and financial muscle to buy support for its position. The Government of Japan knows it cannot rely on the power of science to recruit votes in the IWC, so it relies on the power of its currency.

Officials of the Japanese Fisheries Agency have previously admitted using foreign aid funds to secure the votes of particular countries in the IWC.

Japan has spent millions of yen trying to buy their way to a pro-whaling majority in this forum. Last year's slender majority by those opposed to whaling looks on the point of evaporating. This announcement by Tuvalu may be the final nail in the coffin.

If Japan does gain a majority, the first thing they will do is institute secret voting, which will make it impossible to track vote buying.

The timing of Tuvalu's announcement at the beginning of this month is critical. On July 19 the IWC will begin its 56th Annual Meeting in Sorrento, Italy.

Tuvalu appears to be applying to join the IWC in time to vote with the Japanese and against the conservation of the world's whales.

With the future of the Southern Ocean Sanctuary in the balance and the proposal to create a new sanctuary in the South Pacific, Tuvalu may find itself voting against many of its Pacific neighbours.

Japan and the pro-whaling countries, including the six Eastern Caribbean members, have voted to oppose these sanctuaries, with the expectation that Tuvalu will be expected to support the pro-whaling position.

Recent research by the International Fund for Animal Welfare has clearly demonstrated how valuable the whale watching industry has become. We hope that Governments will acknowledge that whales are worth more alive than dead and IWC members will vote for conservation not exploitation.

* Darren Kindleysides is Asia Pacific Campaigner for the IFAW.