Doc. 10986

27 June 2006

Against the resumption of international whaling

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Evans and others

1.       The Parliamentary Assembly recalls its Resolutions 929 (1989) on the Future of Whaling, 972 (1991) on the Future of Ocean Fisheries and 1012 (1993) on Marine Mammals.

2.       The Assembly notes:

-       the vote taken at St. Kitts and Nevis in June 2006 of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) which by 33 votes to 32 recommended the ending of the Moratorium of 1986 on whaling;

-       that amongst those countries voting in favour of the resumption of whaling, four countries – Denmark, Norway, Iceland and the Russian Federation – are members of the Council of Europe;

-       that many of the other counties which voted for the resumption of whaling are either land-locked or have no history of whaling.

3.       The Assembly is not persuaded by the St. Kitts declaration and believes that the Moratorium on whaling should remain.

4.       The Assembly regrets the number of whales which are currently slaughtered under the provision of scientific research.

5.       The Assembly does not give credence to the argument that the whale population is a threat to fish stocks and the livelihood of fishermen, but notes that whale tourism is now worth over $1 billion annually and is increasing each year.

6.       The Assembly notes that many whale species are still greatly diminished and endangered and that some are close to extinction, including the Northern Right Whale, Southern Right Whale, Bowhead Whale, Blue Whale, Fin Whale, Sei Whale, Sperm Whale and Humpback Whale.

7.       The Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers calls on member states to:

i.       respect the1986 Moratorium on whaling, which was not overturned as the vote taken at St Kitts failed to reach the necessary 75% threshold;

ii.       influence the 33 countries which voted for the resumption of whaling to reconsider their decisions in light of the need to conserve the whaling population.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

• EVANS, Nigel, United Kingdom, EDG
• BOSAK, Krzysztof, Poland, NR
• GABURRO, Giuseppe, Italy, EPP/CD
• GILMORE, Eamon, Ireland, SOC
• HARVEY, Nick, United Kingdom, ALDE
• McCAFFERTY, Chris, United Kingdom, SOC
• RODRIGUES, Ricardo, Portugal, SOC
• SMITH, Geraldine, United Kingdom, SOC
• Lord, TOMLINSON, John, United Kingdom, SOC
• WILLIAMS, Betty, United Kingdom, SOC

¹ SOC: Socialist Group
      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party
      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
      EDG: European Democratic Group
      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
      NR: not registered in a group