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17/01/2006
UK in diplomatic protest over Japanese ‘scientific’ whaling
The UK, along with 16 other countries, has presented a formal diplomatic representation to the Japanese Government urging it to stop its Antarctic whaling programme.
A written statement, or demarche, was delivered to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday and to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry today by the Brazilian ambassador on behalf of the UK, Australia and 14 other countries. It calls on Japan to "cease all its lethal scientific research on whales".
The demarche notes that Japan is now killing more whales every year in the Antarctic alone than it killed for scientific research in the 31 years prior to the introduction of the moratorium on commercial whaling.
It also highlights a resolution adopted at last year's meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) which called on Japan to withdraw its proposal for an increase in scientific whaling.
Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "The UK is totally opposed to any activity that undermines the present moratorium on commercial whaling.
"The fact that 17 countries supported this representation, shows how important this issue is, and the depth of feeling around the world.
"We urge Japan to reconsider its position and end this unjustified and unnecessary slaughter which is regarded by many countries and their public as a means to by-pass the IWC moratorium."
(GB)
A written statement, or demarche, was delivered to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday and to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry today by the Brazilian ambassador on behalf of the UK, Australia and 14 other countries. It calls on Japan to "cease all its lethal scientific research on whales".
The demarche notes that Japan is now killing more whales every year in the Antarctic alone than it killed for scientific research in the 31 years prior to the introduction of the moratorium on commercial whaling.
It also highlights a resolution adopted at last year's meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) which called on Japan to withdraw its proposal for an increase in scientific whaling.
Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "The UK is totally opposed to any activity that undermines the present moratorium on commercial whaling.
"The fact that 17 countries supported this representation, shows how important this issue is, and the depth of feeling around the world.
"We urge Japan to reconsider its position and end this unjustified and unnecessary slaughter which is regarded by many countries and their public as a means to by-pass the IWC moratorium."
(GB)
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