Japan’s controversial scientific whaling program will be examined at a special forum to be held at the University of Queensland next week (August 29).
Legal and animal welfare experts are headlining the event, which will be opened via video link by the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, The Honourable Malcolm Turnbull MP.
Presenter Dr Rachel Baird said the discussion was timely considering the link to the local tourism industry and the changing dynamics of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
“The IWC meetings are becoming more heated. At the 2006 IWC annual meeting supporters of commercial whaling outnumbered their opponents for the first time in the organisation's history, but Japan did not enjoy the same support this year. This turnaround is significant,” Dr Baird said.
Although there is a worldwide moratorium on commercial whaling, Japan plans to capture 900 minke whales, 50 endangered fin and 50 threatened humpback whales during the 2007/8 season in the name of science.
Dr Baird said it was important to explore the legal and diplomatic options open to Australia, as an interventionist approach, such as that mooted earlier in the year, might backfire.
“The IWC is so important because it keeps Japan at the table, and it keeps them acknowledging that we need to conserve the whale population. If they leave the Commission the opportunities for dialogue are lost,” she said.
Joining Dr Baird will be Professor Don Rothwell – Chair of the Sydney Panel of Independent International Legal Experts reviewing Japan's Scientific Whaling Program – and Darren Kindleysides, a marine campaign officer from the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
“Australia has a number of options to challenge the legality of Japan’s scientific whaling program in the Southern Ocean,” Professor Rothwell said.
“If the Australian government acts promptly, it may be able to halt the killing of fin and humpback whales during the coming season.”
The forum will include an open question and answer session with the speakers, and will be held at the James and Mary Emelia Centre, St Lucia from 4pm.
For further information or to register for the event, contact Teola Marsh on (07) 3365 2523 or t.marsh@law.uq.edu.au.
Media: Dr Baird (0411 208 732, 07 3366 9349, r.baird@law.uq.edu.au) or Cameron Pegg at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049, c.pegg@uq.edu.au)
