Australia launches bid to stop commercial whaling

HONIARA - The front pages of Australian newspapers depicting people rescuing beached whales will be used by the federal government in its efforts to influence Pacific Island nations to oppose a resumption of commercial whaling.

Environment minister Ian Campbell will take copies of The West Australian and Sydney's The Daily Telegraph into a meeting with Solomon Islands ministers today.

The pictures shows Australians in wetsuits and bathers keeping a large pod of pilot whales alive near Busselton, Western Australia, last week.

"We are going to send these round to all of the international whaling commission ministers and delegates to reinforce the point - here are 1000 Australians saving 100 whales," he told reporters.

The minister is beginning a two day lobbying tour of Pacific Island nations to support Australia's resistance to a resumption of commercial whaling by Japan and other nations.

He has described his tour as a life or death mission to save the whales.

- AAP