PROTECTION OF WHALES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 136, 10 June 1937, Page 7

PROTECTION OF WHALES

NINE MONTHS CLOSE SEASON LONDON, Juno 8. Representatives of New Zealand, Australia, England, Germany, South Africa, Irish Free State, the United States, the Argentine, and Norway have signed a whaling agreement providing for a nine months' close season for pelagic whaling, also the absolute prohibition thereof in certain areas; also providing that certain species and all whale calves be protected absolutely.

Canada and Portugal were also represented at the whaling conference by observers and there is good reason to hope that they will shortly accede to the agreement. It is hoped, also, to secure the adhesion of the other Governments who did not take part in the conference but have whaling interests to preserve. The agreement comes into force on July 1, subject to ratification, and will be in full force until June 30, 1938, with provision for its continuance thereafter. The agreement follows, on the whole, familiar lines and under it it will not be lawful to take blue whales of less than 70 feet in length, fin whales of less than 55 feet, humpback whales of less than 35 feet, and sperm whales of less than 35 feet. The extension of this form of protection to the sperm whale, which hitherto has not received any protection, is one of the novelties of the agreement. Whaling at land stations is to be subject to a six months’ close season. The agreement is accompanied by a final act in which the conference discusses various matters not dealt with in the agreement and recommends to the Governments that they should prepare to take, in agreement with one another, other measures for the further protection of whales in the light of further experience and knowledge. The conference further points out tha f the measures they have agreed upon may prove negatory if ships of countries not parties to the agreement are permitted to indulge in unregulated whaling and urges the importance of persuading all interested Governments to accede to the agreement. It concludes with a warning that unless whaling is now strictly regulated, the stocks of whales cannot fail to be reduced to a level at which whaling ceases to be remunerative.