WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States today expressed its appreciation to Congressmen Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.) and Nick Rahall (D-W. Va.) for introducing a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday calling upon six Caribbean countries to renounce their support of commercial whaling and instead join with the U.S. in supporting whale conservation and protection.
The House resolution also calls on the United States to consider these countries' pro-whaling positions when reviewing decisions on foreign aid and trade agreements involving the six countries.
"Maintaining the moratorium on commercial whaling is vital to the conservation of whale populations," said Rep. DeFazio. "My resolution calls on these Caribbean countries to renounce their support of commercial whaling and join with the United States in supporting strong conservation measures for whales.
"These countries, whose revenue is heavily reliant on tourism, cannot afford the effect that support for whaling could have on their international image and tourism industry. Whale watching and tourism are far more lucrative than whaling for these countries. It is not in these nations' best interest to be pressured or incentivized by pro-whaling countries to vote in favor of lifting the moratorium."
The Caribbean countries mentioned in the Resolution, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Dominica, and Grenada have generally been in lock-step with the pro-whaling nation of Japan for the last several years.
At the International Whaling Commission meeting last month, these countries voted with Japan, declaring the moratorium on commercial whaling unnecessary, blaming whales for depleting commercial fish stocks and claiming that non-governmental conservation organizations are threatening governments. The passage of this resolution signaled a change in the IWC, and for the first time in decades, the pro-whaling interests seized the majority.
"This resolution is the first time the U.S. Congress has directly called on the pro-whaling Caribbean countries to reconsider their harmful position on whales," said Patricia Forkan, president of Humane Society International, the international arm of The HSUS. "Representatives DeFazio, Gilchrest and Rahall should be congratulated for their efforts to protect whales."
"The pro-whaling Caribbean countries should be held accountable for their part in dismantling two decades worth of whale protections put in place by the IWC and for paving the way for a return to the tragic days of commercial whaling," said Kitty Block, director of treaty law, oceans, and wildlife protection for HSI. "The pro-whaling interests at the IWC are out of step with the global community, which supports whale conservation and doesn't want to see commercial whaling resumed.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with 9.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research, equine protection, and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The non-profit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org..
