Whales Alive

2011-08-15T03:02:00.000-07:00

Japanese advocate calls for halt to whale hunt

Sydney Morning Herald

Andrew Darby

August 13, 2011

THE future of Japan's lethal whale research is in question, with internal criticism of its controversial Antarctic hunt fuelled by doubts the whalers can evade conservationist pursuit.

A senior member of a government review panel set up to advise options after last summer's disastrous season has raised the stakes by openly calling for a halt. Respected Japanese consumer advocate Hisa Anan rejected any scientific need to kill whales.

''Research whaling has been conducted for more than 20 years now,'' Ms Anan told the ABC through an interpreter in Tokyo. ''think they've gathered enough scientific data and even if they want more, they can conduct non-lethal research.''

The committee's majority want to continue with the hunt, according to Japanese media reports, but like Ms Anan they are worried about the threat posed by Sea Shepherd.

The mass circulation daily newspaper, Yomiuri Shimbun, said the majority found: ''Research whaling is justified on the basis of an international treaty. It should be continued without yielding to heinous interference.''

Last summer the whaling fleet was forced out of the Southern Ocean after its hunt was restricted by Sea Shepherd harassment.

The Institute of Cetacean Research said its crews were exhausted by the pursuit, which left them with a catch of 172 whales out of a potential 985.An unnamed Fisheries Agency official said that the prospects of returning were ''extremely gloomy,'' although the government has since stressed that its official policy is unchanged.

Extra pressure is coming from financial losses. The leading business newspaper, Nikkei, said: ''Japanese scientific whaling costs over 3 billion yen ($A35 million) every time, and its deficit is becoming a serious problem.''

Long-term observers of Japanese whaling were unconvinced the powerful agency would be overruled.

''I'm going to give them every chance to reconsider,'' said Mick McIntyre of the group Whales Alive. ''But I'm under no illusions that it's decided.''

Sea Shepherd's leader Paul Watson told the Herald all three of the group's ships would be positioned in Sydney and Fremantle in October.

''We are also looking for a fourth ship," he said. "If they return we will be ready to engage them again.''

Last season, the fleet operated south-east of New Zealand, but if it was to return next summer, it would be the turn of waters south of Australia, meaning closer involvement by the federal government in search and rescue, or monitoring of the fleets.

2011-07-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

Media release 11th July 2011 from the IWC meeting in Jersey, UK

Can the International Whaling Commission (IWC) stamp out corruption and vote buying?
A new proposal is being tabled at this year’s 63rd annual IWC meeting being held in Jersey, Channel Islands, that calls for the IWC to be transparent and more accountable.
The Annual Commission Meeting will run for four days from today, Monday 11 July to Thursday 14 July.

“Its time to stop the corrupt practice of Japan buying votes to support its barbaric practice of whaling. Some African and Caribbean countries have had their votes bought by Japan in exchange for cash. It is an iniquitous practice that must stop now so that we can guarantee a safe future for whales,” says Mick McIntyre, Director of the Australian conservation group Whales Alive, who has been attending IWC meeting since 1993

The UK is putting forward a resolution that calls on the IWC to put in place reforms that would bring the commission’s practices into the 21st century

“There is no other major convention in the world that accepts cash payments for member country payments - The IWC needs to step into the 21st century and be transparent,” McIntyre said.

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) still has a major role to play in protecting whales and this UK proposal is crucial to stop whaling
The 89 country IWC is currently evenly split between pro and anti whaling countries. Japan, Norway and Iceland are the nations practicing whaling, and it is Japan using cash to recruit member countries to vote for their pro whaling stand.
At last years IWC meeting Whales Alive and other NGO’s succeeded in stopping countries overturning the worldwide moratorium on commercial whaling. When a compromise proposal put forward by USA and NZ was defeated.
“At this meeting we have a real chance of putting this convention back on course” said McIntyre

Mick is attending the meeting and is available for interviews. Contact Michael Young, +61 410 408 492

http://www.whalesalive.org.au/

Byron Bay Whales Alive Training Weekend Is A Success!

2011-05-11T20:28:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Whales Alive conducted a weekend long training program for whale and dolphin watching operators and guides. We were even featured in the local Byron newspaper, The Echo.

The following is a press release from the event and the group picture of our awesome participants.

Cape Byron Whale Watching Training Workshop

Spectators at The Pass last Friday had the opportunity to view the first humpback whale for the season as BOB, the inflatable training aid belonging to research organisation Whales Alive, demonstrated approach distance regulations for whale watching tour operators.

A specialised training workshop including classroom and on-water sessions was conducted by Whales Alive and Cape Byron Marine Park (CBMP) on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th of May, for whale and dolphin watching operators and guides representing the five local dive, kayak and charter companies.

The training was delivered by Olive Andrews, Program Director of Whales Alive, who has 12 years experience delivering similar training workshops for governments and industry in Australia and throughout the Pacific and Caribbean Islands, and Dr Liz Hawkins, Leader of Southern Cross University’s Dolphin Ecology and Acoustics Project, which underpins the management and conservation of dolphins in the CBMP.

“As the 2011 whale season approaches, Whales Alive and Cape Byron Marine Park are working together to maximise public education about the natural history of whales and dolphins and minimise any potential impacts on the animals from tourism activities in The Bay” Ms Andrews said.

Cape Byron Marine Park Manager Andrew Page said “The workshop was run to encourage compliance in light of the growth of the marine mammal tourism industry on the North Coast, but also in response to requests from tourism operators for information about responsible whale watching”.

“We commend the local operators for showing leadership in the regulation of their own industry and advancing their knowledge of marine mammals. Byron is one of the better examples in the industry of whale watching operators working in collaboration with scientists and government agencies” said Ms Andrews.

“In other parts of Australia, tourism activities have been linked to decreased reproductive success of the animals so it’s important we comply with whale and dolphin watching regulations, which are designed to allow the animals space to conduct behaviours critical to their survival like feeding, breeding and resting” said Dr Hawkins.

Whales Alive will be partnering with Marine Parks again in June to offer a free public presentation about the biology and conservation of marine mammals to the Byron Bay public. There will also be a benefit concert ‘Whalesong’ involving leading Australian blues artists to support Whales Alive’s research programs at the Great Northern Hotel on Friday 24th June. Stay tuned to The Echo for details.

2011-01-21T21:31:00.000-08:00

JAPANS WHALING FLEET ON THE RUN

(from Sydney Morning Herald)

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/japans-whaling-fleet-on-the-run-20110121-19zyl.html"

January 22, 2011

The future of Japan's Antarctic industry hangs in the balance,
writes Andrew Darby.

IN THE shadows of intent, somewhere between harmless fireworks and deadly force, lies the whaling conflict in the Antarctic.
At one end of this spectrum are the stink bombs thrown against water jets. At the other is the near fatal collision involving the Ady Gil. Among all this piratical colour and movement, decisive moments of a decades-long struggle can pass little noticed.

Such was the case last week when a bizarre fleet manoeuvre formed in the Southern Ocean.
Three black ships of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society took up positions around a red fuel tanker and escorted it out of the Antarctic. Skulking in their wakes were two of the three harpoon-equipped whale hunter ships in the Japanese fleet.
The hunter ships had been tagging the black ships for two weeks, instead of harpooning whales.

Sea Shepherd's Neptune's Navy had tracked them down on New Year's Eve, only hours after they reached their whaling grounds.
The factory ship Nisshin Maru, together with the third harpoon boat, gave the activists the slip. But the two hunters were ordered to keep tabs on Sea Shepherd, presumably to inform the Nisshin Maru so it could keep clear. Now that the Sea Shepherd ships had locked on to the tanker Sun Laurel, the conservationists claimed to have found the fleet's Achilles heel. If Nisshin Maru could not refuel, Japan's whalers would have to cut their season short.

Neptune's Navy came one step closer to ruling the waves. It was further evidence that, after spending 23 years killing about 10,000 Antarctic minkes in the name of science, Japan's whalers are increasingly embattled.
They have seen the collapse of International Whaling Commission talks that might have given them a legitimate Antarctic kill, and taken a series of hits at home.

They had to share official blame for the Ady Gil shipwreck and were forced to apologise for running a whale-meat black market. In the legal trade the Japanese consumer appetite for their product is at best lukewarm.
Falling meat sales are stretching the finances of Japan's whaling agency, the Institute of Cetacean Research. And in the same way that tax laws finally caught up with the US gangster Al Capone, marine regulations are encircling Nisshin Maru, the world's last factory whaling ship.
The hopes of long-time opponents, such as Patrick Ramage, from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, are rising. ''What I sense now is that the whaling industry is in its death throes,'' Ramage says.
The global politics of whaling shifted at a crucial International Whaling Commission meeting in Morocco in June, when the dispute between pro- and anti-whaling governments came to a head.
Of all the issues dividing the 88-member Whaling Commission, none is more sensitive than Japan's Antarctic whaling. A scheme to resolve this split emerged before the Morocco meeting, after three years of secretive wrangling between central commission countries, including Australia.

Its chairman, Cristian Maquieira, of Chile, offered a proposal to reduce Japan's quotas for five years from its present maximum of 935 minke whales to 400, and from 50 fin whales to 10; both these numbers were to halve again for the following five years.
To some anti-whaling governments, including the US, it was a potential face-saver for Japan to phase out Antarctic whaling. New Zealand's representative on the Whaling Commission, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, memorably said everyone would have to ''swallow the dead rat'' of compromise.

But the best Australia would offer Tokyo was a phase-out of whaling within five years. A US diplomatic cable revealed a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade official complaining that greater compromise efforts ''bounced off'' the then environment minister, Peter Garrett.
Japan gave no indication it would be prepared to reduce numbers to an acceptable level, and the talks stalled.
Key negotiators have since left the Whaling Commission, including Palmer. (He now has what some might think an easier job - chairing a United Nations inquiry into the Gaza protest flotilla killings by Israeli soldiers last year.)
The main diplomatic game is shifting to Australia's International Court of Justice case against Japan. Advocates see strong opportunities to expose Japanese whaling before a new global audience in May, when Australia's full case, or ''memorial'', is outlined to the court.

''This case presents a real chance to expose Japan's whaling once and for all as a sham and an abuse of its rights at the IWC,'' says Mick McIntyre, from the group Whales Alive.

The WikiLeaks disclosure of US diplomatic cables revealed Australian cabinet division over the wisdom of this case, which will take years. But it undeniably demonstrates that the whaling issue is shifting from an incapable Whaling Commission and into the hands of other umpires.

The most thorough inquiry into the Ady Gil collision was conducted by Maritime New Zealand, acting as investigator for the wrecked ship's flag state. It recorded black marks against both sides.
It found the Japanese security ship Shonan Maru No. 2 had a responsibility to keep clear of the Ady Gil and had ample opportunity to do so. It also found the Ady Gil's skipper, Pete Bethune, failed to keep his vessel clear. His helmsman had limited visibility and did not see the Japanese boat until seconds before the impact.
This season Shonan Maru No. 2 was left out of the fleet. Bethune split acrimoniously from Sea Shepherd over its refusal to take him south again.

The Fisheries Agency of Japan also took an official hit over its officials' role in a fraudulent whale-meat trade exposed by Greenpeace. Recently the agency made a formal public apology for the loss of thousands of dollars' worth of meat, and censured five staff.

In Japan, where official corruption is consistently big news, damage to the whaling industry's image is significant, says Junichi Sato, of Greenpeace. ''Whaling was considered untouchable in the past,'' Sato said. ''Now this is just another corrupted operation.''
Sato was prosecuted with another man for shining a light on this trade by taking a box of whale meat and giving it to the authorities. They are appealing against their convictions.
He continues to watch the industry, despite the difficulty of making an impact on the government. The ruling Democratic Party of Japan is preoccupied with its own survival, and the Fisheries Agency still calls the shots. Asked whether Greenpeace could gain any engagement with the Democratic Party, Sato points to the fast-changing ministerial chairs and says: ''No. Not at all. It's horrible.''

However, he believes the Institute of Cetacean Research is in difficult financial straits. Two years ago, the Japanese fleet was seven ships strong. This year it has four. The whalers were also three weeks late reaching the Antarctic, and plan a much shorter season.

''I don't think they can afford to pay for a longer period,'' Sato said. ''They have a subsidy of about 800 million yen [$9.7 million] but they are missing revenue on whale-meat sales.''
Whale meat's popularity in Japan is hotly disputed. Its fans in a sprinkling of restaurants defend it; opponents believe it is increasingly seen as a throwback.
David Stevenson, a pro-whaling blogger who tracks the whale-meat trade from published Japanese data, found incoming stock more or less matched the outgoing for much of the past decade.
But consumption fell sharply in 2009. There are indications from Japanese environmentalists that consumption also fell last year. Stevenson argues this is a result of the global financial crisis. Others say more Japanese are rejecting it.
In any case, due to Sea Shepherd's obstruction, there is less whale meat reaching the docks and, as a result, less revenue to offset the institute's costs. Last year the activists cost the whalers 31 days of their season - almost a third - though they managed to catch 506 minkes and one fin whale. This year a much worse figure threatens.

On top of this short-term financial squeeze looms a greater strategic problem. The heavy fuel oil used by Nisshin Maru will be outlawed in the Antarctic by the International Maritime Organisation from August. The institute has given no indication of its intentions but Japan is one of the world's leading maritime nations and is regarded as highly compliant.
The 23-year-old Nisshin Maru may need a multimillion-dollar refit, or a government decision could be forced on whether to replace it. This is a nightmare scenario for whaling's opponents, who see a new ship as entrenching the industry for decades.
Without it, some believe whaling may quietly die, particularly if the fires of its supporters are not stoked by Sea Shepherd's direct action.

The Institute of Cetacean Research describes Sea Shepherd as ''terroristic''. But in technique its leader, Paul Watson, has more in common with Julius Caesar than al-Qaeda. Leading from the front, he besieges whaling. He believes the best way to end the hunt is to strangle its resources, and the rope appears to be tightening.

2010-09-21T18:53:00.000-07:00

Fakaalofa atu all,
Niue Whale Research Project team have just returned from a challenging field season in Niue which was a series of extreme highs and lows for our little team. Fiafia, Vanessa, Cara and Ben were tirelessly stalwart and managed to keep their leader in good humour throughout the setbacks. THANK YOU GUYS!

Quiet whales:
In addition to working from many different boats, the whales were very few, and the conditions averaging 20knots and over with 2m swell. The humpbacks that did come through were very skittish and 2 out of 3 were rounding out instead of fluking! We were only able to complete half of the line transect survey but I think it’s miraculous that we did achieve 130 miles of track lines in the conditions and with half the boat hours.
Whale stats: In total, over 6 weeks, we saw 45 humpbacks including vessel and land observations. Of these there were 3 cow/calf pods. We got 18 individual fluke ID’s, 3 sloughed skin samples, and 21 song recordings notably with a distinct song change brought by one individual we called Mr Curly.

Headlines:
We documented a new cetacean species for Niue when we had a very interesting encounter with 2 Sei whales 12 miles off shore near a sea mount. Photos attached. We also recorded the first sighting of a live sperm whale in Niue (only sighting was a standing event many years ago).

Public Education:
The team did multiple presentations on marine mammal biology and natural history to both the primary and high schools and got senior biology students on the water with the researchers. We also did weekly public presentations to locals and yachties at different venues. The highlight of this season was the Oma Tafua` (treasured whales) show case. Attended by 200 people and raising $1500, the night was opened by a breaching humpback in the sunset in front of the venue, Matavai Resort. Dozens of traditional dance and music groups from all around the island performed stories and songs about whales and the team presented the Fisheries Minister Pokotoa with the SPWRC award for leadership in marine mammal protection from Ocean Voices. The whole event was televised nationally multiple times.

Media:
We did weekly interviews with BCN broadcast on national news and introduced 2 whale films, What to do About Whales and The Humpback Code

Thank you Volunteers and sponsors
SO despite the setbacks the project was very successful in achieving most of its aims and we look forward to going back to ‘The Rock’ of Polynesia in 2011.

Koe kia and Monuina
Olive
<;))>< <;))>< <;))><
Olive Andrews
Program Director, Whales Alive
Project Leader, Niue Whale Research
South Pacific Whale Research Consortium
P: +64 226879050
E: whaleology@gmail.com

2010-06-26T01:30:00.000-07:00

The IWC fails to protect Humpbacks

June 25th

On the last day of its annual meeting the IWC has granted Greenland an annual quota of 9 Humpback whales for the next five years.

“We have failed the Humpbacks,” said Mick McIntyre reporting from the meeting in Agadir, Morocco. “This should never have been allowed to happen,” he said

“Humpback whales are an iconic species and we needed to do more to protect them,” he said

Greenland has an existing Aboriginal whaling quota of Fin whales, Bowhead whales and Minke whales and had requested to add Humpbacks to their annual hunt.

This request has been widely criticised as various reports have shown it does not meet the requirements set out by the IWC for Aboriginal subsistence hunting,

A recent NGO report outlined the commerciality of the hunt by tracking the whale meat through supermarkets in Greenland.

Under IWC rules whale meat caught under Aboriginal Subsistence quota can only be for local consumption

“It’s become clear this is a commercial hunt,” said McIntyre, After all their great work earlier in the meeting to defeat the chair’s compromise whaling package, the IWC needed to do more to save these Humpbacks.” He said

‘This sets a terrible precedent for the IWC’ he said

This is the first time since the commercial moratorium that the IWC has authorised the killing of Humpback whales.

The meeting concludes today,

www.whalesalive.org.au

2010-06-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

International Whaling Commission (IWC)

IWC 62,

DAY 3 (JUNE 23, 2010)

Greetings from Agadir, Morocco,

The Whaling deal is dead

· The moratorium on commercial whaling remains in place today as the member countries of the IWC rejected a compromise whaling proposal.

· Two years of secret discussions followed by another day and a half of secret Commissioners’ negotiations in Agadir ended with the proposal not getting enough support.

This is a great victory for the whales

Had this compromise agreement been approved by the IWC, not only would the moratorium be lifted, but the abusive activities of Japan, Norway and Iceland would have received the stamp of approval from the IWC.

(Of course it is a hollow victory because as we speak the Japanese are in the North pacific killing the largest brained creature on the planet (Sperm whales) and in November will steam down to the Antarctic to take endangered Fin whales and Minke whales, but today’s victory was essential)

· In conclusion the chair indicated that The Future of the IWC agenda item will be kept open,

· This was to allow countries to decide what’s next regarding the “Future of the IWC”

· Minister Garrett and the entire OZ delegation deserve special recognition for their efforts to block this mad proposal,

· In addition the Latin block, Brazil, Chile, Argentina etc. were fabulous also.

· Obviously NZ and the USA have some major explaining to do about their promotion of this whaling proposal.

Other Agenda Items

· Whale Populations

Surprise, surprise the Scientific Committee still does NOT have an agreed abundance estimate for Antarctic minke whales.

(Which completely makes a mockery of Japan’s lethal research in the Antarctic)

There are two estimates that are currently miles apart

BUT both estimates show incredible decline in the Southern Minke population, (a HUGE concern)

A real worry is that there is talk about averaging out the two conflicting estimates if they can’t reconcile???????

· Safety at Sea

The Japanese wheeled out a PowerPoint on the “violent” attacks from Sea Shepherd

Interestingly they showed the video of the sinking of the Ady Gill, despite the incident still being investigated by the NZ and OZ governments.

Also Sir Geoffrey Palmer noted in his intervention that he was not comfortable talking about the Ady Gill incident as he did not want to unduly influence the ongoing trial of the New Zealand citizen Peter Bethune, who he said was sitting in a Japanese jail still waiting to go to trial.

The Japanese also applied pressure on the Netherlands (where the Sea Shepherd boats are registered)

The Netherlands responded by saying that they were overhauling their laws on ship registration,

It will be interesting to see whether this affects Sea Shepherds ability to register to the Netherlands.

· Southern Ocean Research Partnership (SORP)

Minister Garrett and the OZ delegation hosted reception at the end of the day’s meetings to highlight the research from the first SORP Antarctic cruise.

Very Important to recognize Australia’s huge investment in non-lethal research.

· Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling

Unfortunately Greenland’s request for Humpbacks is still on the table

And today they put forward their latest proposal.

As NGO reports have repeatedly shown the Greenland hunt has many commercial elements to it and therefore this latest request for Humpbacks must be rejected.

· The work continues

So at the end of Day 3 we can reflect on the good work that went into defeating the whaling package

We also know that the work continues tomorrow,

Making sure that the IWC continues to move forward as a conservation Convention

BUT also recognize that the IWC still remains unable to stop Japan using article 8 to conduct “so called” scientific whaling !!!

Whaling talks suspended as deadlock continues

By environment reporter Sarah Clarke

June 21st Updated 28 minutes ago

Within an hour of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) opening in Morocco, official talks were suspended for two days.

Representatives from more than 80 nations had gathered for the annual IWC meeting, set to be the most controversial in years.

But the deputy chair of the IWC has called for private talks to break the deadlock.

Australia is concerned by the development and says it "shuts down the official process which has been underway for two years".

The sticking point remains over a proposal to overturn a 24-year ban on commercial whaling.

Under the IWC draft proposal, which Australia is opposing, Japan would be allowed to catch 120 whales a year in its coastal waters.

Mick McIntyre from Whales Alive says the deal has split the anti-whaling nations.

"This is a deal that's being supported by what we once called our allies," he said.

"Pro-conservation countries like the US and New Zealand - how did this happen?"

Environment Protection Minister Peter Garrett says the Australian Government cannot accept the compromise.

"Australia must be successful in opposing this shabby deal," he said.

"If such a deal were to go through, Australians would need to resign themselves to watching the slaughter of whales in the Southern Ocean year after year over the next decade."

2010-06-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Agadir, Morocco, where I am attending the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

I arrived in Agadir after a long journey via the UK and immedialtey went into working groups discussing the future of the IWC,

it is shaping up to be a crucial meeting, it will decide the future of the worlds whales,

please keep informed, the whales need you,

ciao

Mick

Protect the whales not the whalers

International Whaling Commission meeting to decide the fate of the world’s whales

Media release 00/01

17 June 2010

A proposal due to be considered at the 62^nd annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) next week would effectively lift the moratorium on commercial whaling. This would take us back to the dark days of commercial whaling, says Mick McIntyre, Director of Whales Alive.

“It is time that the IWC started protecting whales and not the whaling industry,” he said.

An IWC moratorium on commercial whaling has been in place since 1986. However Japan has successfully exploited a loophole in this ban to carry on its spurious so-called ‘scientific’ whaling program.

Since 1986 Japan, Norway and Iceland have slaughtered 35,000 whales.

“Governments are being asked to consider this new proposal which would legitimise whaling and give the whalers everything they could wish for and would see whales cruelly butchered on Australia’s doorstep in the IWC whale sanctuary in the Southern Ocean. It is incomprehensible that the member nations of the IWC would allow this proposal to succeed,” Mr McIntyre said today as he left Sydney today to attend the IWC meeting in Agadir.

“In return all Japan need do is agree to an IWC monitoring program. There is no long-term commitment to phase out whaling. The slaughter will continue unabated. Accepting this proposal would be a tragic day for whales and everything Australians believe in,” said Mr McIntyre.

Recently the Australian government has taken Japan to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague in a bid to stop it from using the legal loophole to whale in the Southern Ocean. According to documents submitted by Australia to the ICJ, Japan is allegedly breaching the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling under the guise of scientific research.

Mick McIntyre is the director of the Australian conservation group, Whales Alive a non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection and celebration of Whales and their fragile marine habitat. He has attended every IWC meeting as an observer since 1993.

McIntyre is available for comment on a daily basis direct from the IWC meeting in Agadir, Morocco which runs from June 21 – June 25.

Please contact Michael Young in Sydney, 0410 408 492

Mick in Morocco +212 6506229432

www.whalesalive.org.au

2010-05-30T21:13:00.000-07:00

WHALES ALIVE PRESS RELEASE

Japanese Whalers to be Prosecuted

28 May 2010

The Announcement Today By The Australian Federal Government That It Will Take Japan To The International Court Of Justice In The Hague In An Attempt To End Its Barbaric Practice Of Whaling, Is Good News, Says Mick McIntyre, Director Of Australian Based Whales Alive.

“For years Japan has exploited a loophole at the IWC which has allowed it to continue the barbaric and inhumane slaughter of these magnificent creatures in the Southern Ocean under its so-called spurious ‘scientific whaling program’, which in reality is commercial whaling. Japan will at last be called to account for its outrageous behavior,” said McIntyre.

“Action needed to be taken outside the IWC which was gridlocked on this issue, “said Macintyre.

The Australian Labour Party went to the electorate in 2007 with a promise to take Japan to court to end whaling, a promise which is now fulfilling.

“Japan has shown a lack of good faith in stopping this barbaric practice and the Australian Government knows that Australians do not want to see any more images of Japanese whalers in action, such as we saw in 2008 when photos were published of a minke whale and its calf being hauled aboard a Japanese whaler,” said McIntyre.

Whales Alive applauds this move by the Australian Government to bring Japan to the International Court of Justice to account for its behavior.

Mick McIntyre has attended every International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting since 1993 and will be attending this year’s meeting in June at Agadir, Morocco.

McIntyre Is Available For Interview Call 0408 884 999, Or Michael Young 0410 408 492

Http://www.Whalesalive.Org.Au

2010-05-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

28 May 2010

GOVERNMENT INITIATES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST JAPANESE WHALING

Australia will initiate legal action in the International Court of Justice in The Hague against Japanese ‘scientific’ whaling in the Southern Ocean.

The decision underlines the Government’s commitment to bring to an end Japan’s program of so-called ‘scientific’ whaling in the Southern Ocean. It also demonstrates our commitment to do what it takes to end whaling globally.

The Australian Government has not taken this decision lightly. We have been patient and committed in our efforts to find a diplomatic resolution to this issue. We have engaged in intensive discussions in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and bilaterally with Japan.

We have enjoyed the support of many other IWC members who share Australia's concerns and goals. We commend countries of the European Union, the Buenos Aires group of Latin American countries, and others who have joined with Australia in highlighting, in particular, the necessity for phasing out whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary.

But to date, the response of the whaling countries has not been positive. Recent statements by whaling countries in the Commission have provided Australia with little cause for hope that our serious commitment to conservation of the world’s whales will be reflected in any potential IWC compromise agreement.

The Government has always been firm in our resolve that if we could not find a diplomatic resolution to our differences over this issue, we would pursue legal action. The Government’s action fulfils that commitment.

Australia will remain closely engaged in the IWC process and will continue to work hard in the lead up to and at the IWC meeting in June to pursue our objectives While an outcome at that meeting which meets Australia’s fundamental conservation objectives is slim, the Government will continue to engage constructively in the diplomatic effort.

Australia and Japan share a comprehensive strategic, security and economic partnership. We share a substantial commercial relationship built over many decades, growing strategic and security linkages, and work together closely in key international forums such as the G20, the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation and APEC.

The Government’s action today reflects a disagreement in one element of a relationship that is deep, broad and multi-dimensional.

Both Australia and Japan have agreed that, whatever our differences on whaling, this issue should not be allowed to jeopardise the strength and the growth of our bilateral relationship.

At the same time, the Australian Government will keep working tirelessly to achieve an end to whaling in the Southern Ocean, and we will use all legal and diplomatic avenues to achieve our goal.

A formal application will be lodged in The Hague early next week.

------

National Whale Day 2010 - Byron Bay

2010-05-25T02:30:00.000-07:00

All sorts of exciting events are planned for National Whale Day 2010 in Byron Bay. Whales Alive will be up at the Cape Byron Lighthouse giving talks and presentations to the public from 11am - 1pm. You can come and meet whale researchers from the Southern Cross University Whale Research Group and learn all about whales and their environment. Following these presentations during the day, an action packed festival will then kick off in the evening.

To celebrate the return of the humpback whales, National Whale Day Festival 2010 has been organised by Whales Alive, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Surfers for Cetaceans for June 5th 2010 in Byron Bay, Australia. The day will celebrate the beauty and majesty of whales and raise awareness of their uncertain future. Come and learn about the plight of the whales whilst enjoying some great music, food and market stalls. The Festival's music lineup will feature Deya dova, Juzzie Smith, The Grains and Greg Sheehan plus a very special headline act - that's so special we can't mention their name. Vegetarian and vegan food stalls will be provided by local favourites including Soul bow, Organic Kitchen and Bay Leaf. the evening will also have silent auctions and raffles with great prizes, films by the Oceania Project and much much more!!

It is an all ages event. Gates open at 4pm and music begins at 4.30pm and will play into the late hours. The venue is 412 Ewingsdale Rd, Byron Bay. Follow the latest news about the event on the facebook page National Whale Day (Byron Bay and Northern NSW).

Humpback Whale Migration Begins

2010-05-05T02:38:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 24th April 2010, the first of the whales were spotted off the Cape Byron Lighthouse by Whales Alive's Liz Hawkins. It's a great sign as winter descends upon us, the whales are returning to the tropics. We are anticipating a fantastic year for the whales and look forward to seeing some of our old friends!

2010-04-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

Green groups say IWC proposal will see a return to commercial whaling

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s2881547.htm

MARK COLVIN: Environment groups say the International Whaling Commission's proposal to allow some whales to be killed is a return to commercial whaling.   The IWC's proposal would let whalers harpoon 400 minke whales and 10 fin whales each year in Antarctic waters.  Fin whales are an endangered species and green groups say the only reason their numbers are strong again is because of the ban on commercial whaling. Australia says it won't support the proposal and in a surprise twist New Zealand has also said it won't support it.  Brigid Glanville reports from Auckland.   

BRIGID GLANVILLE: The next meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Morocco in June was always going to be heated. But today's announcement from the IWC guarantees the debate will be loud and long.   Australia is against whaling and is very worried this latest proposal may be supported. The Environment Minister, Peter Garret.  

PETER GARRETT: We'll look at the IWC statement carefully but on face value, it falls very well short of any outcome that Australia could ever accept and I repeat what we've said all through this process and that is, that Australia remains resolutely opposed to commercial and so-called scientific whaling. And we will not support a proposal which would sanction commercial whaling and we've put an alternative set of proposals which we think go towards achieving the conservation goals which we believe the IWC nations should set for themselves.   

BRIGID GLANVILLE: The IWC proposal would allow 400 minke whales and 10 fin whales to be killed each year in Antarctic waters. Australia wants a proposal that bans whaling for commercial and scientific reasons.  

 PETER GARRETT: We need to strongly press for no whaling in IWC endorsed sanctuaries. We need to agree on the scientific procedures that underpin all IWC decisions.   

BRIGID GLANVILLE: Environmental groups are outraged. The WWF says this proposal endorses the killing of whales in one of the most critical feeding grounds, the Southern Ocean.

Mick McIntyre from Whales Alive says the proposal is flawed.  MICK MCINTYRE: This proposal would mean the return to commercial whaling because it clearly is a proposal that would legitimise whaling over a ten year period. To me it's like if you were a parent and you said to your kids, don't worry about, don't worry about us telling you what to do or receiving any discipline. You know, you do what you like for ten years and then we'll come and talk to you about how you went and how, you know, then we'll talk to you about discipline at the end of those ten years.   I mean it's, it's a free for all and it's completely legitimising what Japan has been doing in its scientific whaling program. It completely allows them to get away with murder basically.  BRIGID GLANVILLE: This is the first time the IWC has put a figure on the numbers of whales it would allow to be killed. The proposal was put forward in an attempt to break the deadlocked debate.  Non whaling countries which support it, such as the US, believe a compromise will mean the number of whales killed will be closely controlled.  Three weeks ago there was international outrage when New Zealand said it would consider this proposal. But today it says the proposal is offensive and inflammatory.  Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully.  

MURRAY MCCULLY: The proposal for a consensus decision proposed by the IWC chair and deputy chair today falls seriously short of a basis, of being a basis for diplomatic settlement to the whaling debate.   In terms of the specifics, the proposed catch limits for the southern ocean are unrealistic and unacceptable from New Zealand's point of view. The suggestion that there should be a small quota for fin whale is an inflammatory proposal in my view.   BRIGID GLANVILLE:

Mick McIntyre from Whales Alive hopes other nations will now follow New Zealand.   MICK MCINTYRE: New Zealand's change of heart is very, very welcome. I think commonsense has prevailed with the New Zealand government. They saw the writing on the wall that this was a complete contradiction of the proposal. That all this proposal does is give the whaling countries everything they could possibly want.   

BRIGID GLANVILLE: The members of the IWC will decide whether to adopt the proposal at the next meeting in Morocco in June. This is Brigid Glanville in Auckland for PM.

2010-04-11T19:22:00.001-07:00

Whaling compromise 'incredibly worrying'

By environment reporter Sarah Clarke

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/12/2870047.htm?section=justin

Posted 2 hours 13 minutes ago

Conservation groups are calling on the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to abandon a proposal that would overturn a global moratorium on commercial whaling.

A group of IWC nations is meeting in Washington to negotiate a way forward for the deadlocked regulatory whaling body, ahead of the annual whaling conference in June.

IWC members including Australia, New Zealand and the US are considering a deal that could overturn a 24-year ban on commercial whaling in return for Japan cutting its quota of whales killed in the name of science.

But Mick McIntyre from the group Whales Alive says the negotiations have gone too far and countries such as Australia must stop the deal from going ahead.

"This compromise proposal certainly has momentum, and that's incredibly worrying," he said.

"Now that they're getting to the point of talking about how many whales to kill, we ask the question, how did it get this far?

"We need to stand tough, work very hard to convince our other allies that we need to stop this compromise in its tracks."

Mr McIntyre says the deal undermines whale protection.

"This isn't about working to create a deal that allows whaling. This is about working to stop whaling," he said.

"Any compromise that is talked about at this meeting is just unacceptable."

The proposal needs a three-quarters majority vote to go ahead. A number of IWC nations are yet to declare their position.

2010-02-25T18:43:00.000-08:00

Australia proposes end to whaling

Updated 11 hours 59 minutes ago

The Federal Government says it wants whaling in the Southern Ocean to be phased out over the next five years and for all whaling to be brought under the control of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

An Australian proposal which has been submitted to the IWC also calls for other whaling programs to be phased out over a reasonable period of time.

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett says a proposal released by the IWC's working group earlier this week falls well short of any outcome the Australian Government could accept.

Conservation groups have welcomed the Government's proposal, which demands closure of the loophole that allows Japan to conduct so-called scientific whaling in the Southern Ocean.

The proposal also calls for an end to whaling in sanctuaries.

Mick McIntyre from Whales Alive says Australia's proposal is a good step, but it must be emphatic in its demand to stop - not just phase out - the inhumane practice.

"It's great to see that the Australian Government has rejected the original proposal from the IWC, which would have effectively lifted the moratorium on commercial whaling," he said.

"And although short in detail, it's heading much more in the right direction for stopping whaling."

But the Federal Opposition says the Government has given Japan the green light to continue whaling in Antarctic waters.

The Opposition's environment spokesman, Greg Hunt, says the Government has broken its election promise to stop whaling.

"Mr Garrett's proposal is a white flag which gives a green light to Japan to continue slaughtering whales in our waters for the next five years, and to continue slaughtering whales infinitely," he said.

'Extremely regrettable'

But the proposal has angered Japan, who again defended their whaling program.

"It is extremely regrettable that such a proposal was made," said State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Koichi Takemasa, Japan's number-two diplomat after the foreign minister.

Japanese officials stressed the legitimacy of their "research" whaling, conducted using a loophole in an international moratorium.

"It is a legitimate activity based on an international treaty," Senior Vice Minister of Agriculture Akira Gunji said.

"We have to work hard so that the whaling issue will not affect the friendly Japan-Australia relations."

Tensions flared last week when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd bluntly warned Japan it had until November to reduce its whale catch to zero, or face action in the ICJ.

On a visit to Australia at the weekend, Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada described the ultimatum as "unfortunate", but said his country would meet any challenge head-on and seek to prove its activities were legal.

Australia, along with New Zealand, has consistently opposed Japan's killing of hundreds of whales each year under a loophole that allows "lethal research".

- ABC/AFP

On 26/02/2010, at 7:07 AM, Sue Taei wrote:

Dolphin Summer Days 2010

2010-02-21T19:23:00.000-08:00

Whales Alive's Liz Hawkins has just completed an action packed dolphin research summer field season. For just over four weeks, her team of over 40 volunteers from the Dolphin Ecology & Acoustics Project (DEAP) observed the dolphins in Byron Bay, northern New South Wales. From the top of the Cape Byron Lighthouse and from boats and kayaks, volunteers made observations on the dolphins and marine activities occurring in the Bay. The season began with some amazing weather, great dolphin action and good data.

This time of year is the peak of the bottlenose dolphin birthing season. This year, there were many healthy newborn calves seen. Many resident dolphins were seen again, some with new calves and some babysitting. There was plenty of dolphin action. On one day, almost 200 dolphins were seen in the morning!

The DEAP research team was not only gathering data to investigate the ecology of resident dolphins, but also the impacts of human activities, particularly tourism. There were unfortunately a number of cases of harassment and people breaking the NSW Dolphin Watching Regulations. The DEAP team were actively educating people who did the wrong thing and making sure the dolphins were left to rest and nurture the newborns undisturbed.

The DEAP team will continue their field collection in the coming months to uncover more of the mysteries of Byron Bay's resident dolphin population.

2010-01-09T22:24:00.000-08:00

2009-12-14T14:15:00.000-08:00

Australia's prime minister threatened legal action against Japan on Friday if it does not stop its research whaling program that kills up to 1,000 whales a year.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's comments came as the Australian Broadcasting Corp. quoted Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada as saying in an interview that Japan has no plans to halt its killing of whales in the Antarctic.

"We don't accept Japan's premise for those terms of so-called scientific whaling," Rudd told Australia's Fairfax Radio Network. "If we cannot resolve this matter diplomatically, we will take international legal action. I've said that before — I'm serious about it."

Australian's want to see an end to this barbaric madness and they want their government to lead the way. Lets make sure Rudd keeps his promise!

Photo Courtesy: AFP

2009-11-04T22:47:00.000-08:00

I went down to Bondi beach this morning to join hundreds of others to welcome The Surfers for Cetaceans Kayakers to Sydney.

The crew of Hilton Dawe, Dave Rastovich, Chris Del Moro, Howie Cooke and Will Connor,

After kayaking for 36 days from Byron Bay to Sydney to raise awareness of the plight of the whales Dave Rastovich sent a messgae to Mr. Rudd and Mr. Garrett.

"You said you would take Japan to the international courts and none of this has happened"

It is so important for this message to be repeated over and over again - the Australian Government must act.

The Japanese whaling fleet is getting ready to depart (will leave sometime in November) for another season of illegal whaling in the Antarctic, so todays event was a great reminder of the need to mobilise and put pressure on the Australian government to take action.

This gathering was so inspiring and we chatted afterwards about next steps. I chatted with Waverley councilor Mora Main (Bondi beach is in Waverley council) about what local councils could do to stop whaling and she and I are throwing ideas around.

Its time to act, we cant let another whaling season go by unchallenged !!!

2009-10-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Whales Alive Blog

Whales Alive Attended The 18th Biennial Conference On The Biology Of Marine Mammals, Organized By The Society For Marine Mammalogy

Program Director, Olive Andrews and Scientific advisor Dr. Liz Hawkins are attending this conference, which brings together some 1500 researchers and students from around the world. It provides an opportunity to present recent findings, and to discuss approaches to improve conservation efforts for these large mammals that are also of significant interest to the public.

The science presentations will touch on several themes including behaviour, physiology, genetics, distribution and abundance, as well as, communication and evolution. Several presentations will also look at contaminants, health concerns and the impacts of different human interactions. Scientists will also debate conservation measures and regulations that contribute to the protection of these ocean giants.

for more information on the conference visit www.marinemammalscience.org, under Conference.