1985 whale quota to be hammered out

Press, 20 June 1984, Page 10

1985 whale quota to be hammered out

NZPA-Reuter Buenos Aires Conflict over whale-catch quotas for 1985, the last year before a five-year ban on whaling takes effect, marked the opening of the International Whaling Commission’s annual meeting yesterday. The commission’s scientific committee recommended a cut from 6655 to 3887 in the permitted catch of minke whales in southern oceans, where Japanese and Soviet whalers catch. Japan has proposed a permitted catch of 7394 south-

ern minke whales, which are expected to make up two-thirds of the world whale-catch this year. Conservationists said that

acceptance of the scientific committee’s recommendation on southern minke whales would make the Japanese and Soviet fleets economically inefficient. The quota for 1985 will be worked out in the six days of talks, likely to reflect the strength of international support for the ban on all commercial whaling. Although the commission approved the freeze in 1982 it is opposed by the Soviet Uhion, Japan and Norway, who do 70 per cent of commercial whaling.

The United States, regarded as the key to the ban’s success, said in an opening statement that it was essential.