IWC 65 Day 3 part 2

US (left) and UK delegations

Some discussion on Chile’s two resolutions follows.Japan wants to know which aspects will be sent to the Scientific Committee to be review and will be agreed here. After a couple of exchanges [which seem not to bring anything that might be referred to as clarity] the Chair declares a five minute break for Japan and Chile to confer; they do but Iceland needs some more time to understand what is going on.

How might time says the chair – overnight; ten minutes, twenty minutes?

It seems that an overnight reflection is required.

Jeannine takes a tour through the resolutions -

On the issue of Small Type Costal Whaling, Japan said that he made some questions yesterday. He would like some answers, so he can consider what he will do tomorrow.

Australia says we are discussing this issue now, not something hypothetical. Japan has not gone through the required steps with this proposal.

USA: thank you madam chairman – we support Australia. The [commercial] quota is zero.

New Zealand says that he thought he had already answered. If it is not article VIII it is in breach. I am not clear where my friend from Japan is going with his threat about what tomorrow might bring.

Italy: Italy on the behalf of the EU nations restates that their position is against – and that is where we are at the moment.

Chair - Any other countries, Japan?

Japan: we know the basic position of Australian government – whatever happens you cannot support the science; it is very inconsistent to me.

In reply to New Zeland he adds, this is not special permit or aboriginal, so 10e is [indeed] relevant; 10e allows that whaling can proceed when conditions allow. The EU nations are against commercial whaling; this is against 10e, if I sound threatening, that was not my intention. We have to think of the next step and that is a very simple step; we have to think of what we should say.

Chair – so this agenda remains open.

We move to the welfare work programme [the story so far just to remind you is that intrersessional work has led to the development of a draft work programme which the UK championed but the programme – the main aspect of which is to extend issue to non-whaling impacts, like ship-strikes and entanglements – was firmly rebuffed by some countries led by Norway].  

The Chair calls on the UK for an upodate: The distinguished Commissioner for the United Kingdom, Mr Nigel Goodling, says that he has listened carefully to all statements and is pleased to present a revised document. Referring back to the committee review, he notes that he heard many views in support and we have addressed many points made. Rev 2 was uploaded at lunch time; we have clearly distinguished between hunting and non-hunting welfare aspects – this document we think addressed the positive comments. I ask the parties to now adopt these recommendations?

Norway replies – reiterating that it had serious concerns with the tabled document. We still find the proposal ambitious but ‘in the spirit of good faith’, we will not block a consensus and we thank UK and co-sponsors for taking our concerns into account.

South Africa supports the adoption and would like to join the group.

Any more comments? encourages the Chair…. last opportunity she adds. She pauses. The proposal is that we adopt by consensus. Pause. Do you agree. Pause. Let us nod [we do with vigour]

Great nodding she says

Applause follows.

Jeanine says that she would like to commend the UK and Norway for the great work that they have been doing.

The UK says thank you to Norway and thanks to the IWC for the consensus adoption of this [welfare] plan. The UK will commit £20,000 to its delivery.

Chair – thank you UK.

The distinguished alternate Commissioner from Austria goes to shake the hands of UK and Norway.

Another attempt is made to look at the Chilean resolutions – the highly innovative approach of beaming them up onto the huge screens in the meeting hall is attempted but the chair says this is too confusing. Let us get a revised text in front of us.

And so we close. National delegates ease their sore limbs from their little chairs, whilst up in the cinema seats non-governmental observers seem almost reluctant to move. Many are filing copy with distant media colleagues and contacts. The big news for the day will be UK’s success with its welfare plan.

Meerkat Update

Further to my plea for reports, sighting of meerkats (believed likely to be Meery the missing companion of the UK Commissioner) have now been made around Piran and also in the meeting hall itself. Curiously, it is rumoured that there may be more than one meerkat in the Grand upside down hotel. As this is not a species indigenous to Slovenia this is quite surprising. 

Is this Meery up the bell tower in Piran?