FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Commercial whaling is unethical, unsustainable and unnecessary” says Humane Society International
LIMA, Peru (26 Sept. 2024)—Whale-friendly nations at the 69th International Whaling Commission meeting have voted by a resounding majority to accept a resolution proposal to reaffirm the global ban on commercial whale killing.
The draft resolution was submitted by the European Union with 37 yes votes, 12 no votes and 8 abstentions.
Grettel Delgadillo, deputy director of Humane Society International/Latin America said, said: “The EU tabled this compassionate and conservation-minded proposal to remind countries of their legal obligations pertaining to commercial whaling. Considering the persistent attempts by pro-whaling nations to dismantle the 40-year-old ban, the message behind this proposal is much needed. Thanks to the moratorium, the lives of hundreds of thousands of whales will have been saved and many species brought back from the brink of extinction. Commercial whaling is unethical, unsustainable and unnecessary so we welcome the passing of this proposal as a signal to all nations that the world must continue to save the whales.”
The global moratorium on commercial whaling was agreed to in 1982 and implemented from 1986 onwards because the high number of whales being killed was threatening the survival of whale populations. The moratorium is widely considered to be one of the most major conservation successes of our time. It has likely prevented the killing of tens or even hundreds of thousands of whales, blocked the expansion of commercial whaling for decades and allowed some whale populations to recover from cruel and unsustainable mass slaughter.
Humane Society International has a team of experts at the IWC meeting available for interviews.
ENDS
Media contact: HSI (United Kingdom) Wendy Higgins: director of international media whiggins@hsi.org
About us:
Humane Society International (HSI) is the world's largest animal protection organisation and HSI Australia established our office in 1994. We work to create a humane and sustainable world for animals advocating across wildlife conservation and animal welfare policy areas.
Contact details:
Matthew Smeal
HSI Australia
0434 483 493
msmeal@hsi.org.au