CONTENTS

Resolution 2006-1

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS DECLARATION

EMPHASISING that the use of cetaceans in many parts of the world including the Caribbean, contributes to sustainable coastal communities, sustainable livelihoods, food security and poverty reduction and that placing the use of whales outside the context of the globally accepted norm of science-based management and rule-making for emotional reasons would set a bad precedent that risks our use of fisheries and other renewable resources;

FURTHER EMPHASING that the use of marine resources as an integral part of development options is critically important at this time for a number of countries experiencing the need to diversify their agriculture;

UNDERSTANDING that the purpose of the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) is to ‘provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry’ (quoted from the Preamble to the Convention) and that the International Whaling Commission (IWC) is therefore about managing whaling to ensure whale stocks are not over-harvested rather than protecting all whales irrespective of their abundance;

NOTING that in 1982, the IWC adopted a moratorium on commercial whaling (paragraph 10 e of the Schedule to the ICRW) without advice from the Commission’s Scientific Committee that such measure was required for conservation purposes;

FURTHER NOTING that the moratorium which was clearly intended as a temporary measure is no longer necessary, that the Commission adopted a robust and risk-averse procedure (RMP) for calculating quotas for abundant stocks of baleen whales in 1994 and that the IWC’s own Scientific Committee has agreed that many species and stocks of whales are abundant and sustainable whaling is possible;

CONCERNED that after 14 years of discussion and negotiation, the IWC has failed to complete and implement a management regime to regulate commercial whaling.

ACCEPTING that scientific research has shown that whales consume huge quantities of fish making the issue a matter of food security for coastal nations and requiring that the issue of management of whale stocks must be considered in a broader context of ecosystem management since eco-system management has now become an international standard.

REJECTING as unacceptable that a number of international NGOs with self-interest campaigns should use threats in an attempt to direct government policy on matters of sovereign rights related to the use of resources for food security and national development;

NOTING that the position of some members that are opposed to the resumption of commercial whaling on a sustainable basis irrespective of the status of whale stocks is contrary to the object and purpose of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling;

UNDERSTANDING that the IWC can be saved from collapse only by implementing conservation and management measures which will allow controlled and sustainable whaling which would not mean a return to historic over-harvesting and that continuing failure to do so serves neither the interests of whale conservation nor management;

NOW THEREFORE:

COMMISSIONERS express their concern that the IWC has failed to meet its obligations under the terms of the ICRW and,

DECLARE our commitment to normalising the functions of the IWC based on the terms of the ICRW and other relevant international law, respect for cultural diversity and traditions of coastal peoples and the fundamental principles of sustainable use of resources, and the need for science-based policy and rulemaking that are accepted as the world standard for the management of marine resources.

Resolution Sponsors

Resolution 2006-2

RESOLUTION ON THE SAFETY OF VESSELS ENGAGED IN WHALING AND WHALE RESEARCH-RELATED ACTIVITIES

WHEREAS the safety of vessels and crew and the order of maritime navigation are, and have long been, the common interest of nations worldwide,

WHEREAS the Commission and Contracting Governments support the right to legitimate and peaceful forms of protest and demonstration,

MINDFUL of the fact that issues relating to confrontation between vessels at sea and in port have been discussed by this Commission as well as other international fora including the International Maritime Organization,

RECOGNISING the fact that domestic and international concerns have been expressed concerning confrontation at sea and port relating to whaling and whale research activities,
SERIOUSLY CONCERNED that dangerous confrontations risk human life, property, and the order of maritime navigation, and may lead to grave accidents,

RECALLING the International Regulations for preventing Collisions at Sea which set uniform principles and rules for avoiding collisions at sea,

RECALLING further the guidelines of the International Maritime Organization relating to consultation and cooperation in marine casualty investigations,

NOW THEREFORE THIS COMMISSION,

AGREES AND DECLARES that the Commission and its Contracting Governments do not condone any actions that are a risk to human life and property in relation to these activities of vessels at sea, and urges persons and entities to refrain from such acts;

ENCOURAGES Contracting Governments to take appropriate measures, consistent with IMO guidelines, in order to ensure that the substance and spirit of this Resolution are observed both domestically and internationally.

Resolution 2006-3

FRENCH AND SPANISH AS WORKING LANGUAGES OF THE COMMISSION

AWARE of the internationally accepted difference between ‘official languages’ and ‘working languages’ in the operations of international conventions;

FURTHER AWARE of the necessity for international organizations to protect the Sovereign Rights and the cultural values of their members;

WELCOMING the increasing number of French speaking countries becoming members of the Commission;

CONSCIOUS of the difficulties inherent to the implementation of new working languages within the Commission, but wishing to make concrete progress in this direction;

RECALLING the several discussions that took place since IWC56 regarding the introduction of French as working language of the Commission, as reported mainly in reports submitted to the Commission by the Finances and Administration Committee;

NOTING with gratitude and appreciation the special contribution made by the Governments of France and Monaco towards an experimental implementation of the French language as a working language of the Commission;

FURTHER NOTING with gratitude and appreciation efforts and contributions made by other members of the Commission to assist with the implementation of French as a working language; and

RECOGNISING the excellent work performed by the Finances and Administration Committee and the Secretariat

NOW THEREFORE THE COMMISSION:

INSTRUCTS the Secretariat to provide translation and interpretation in French and Spanish in accordance with IWC/58/28 at the 2007 IWC Annual Meeting.

REQUESTS the Secretariat to investigate the possibility of recognising French and Spanish as working languages of the Commission at the 2007 IWC Annual Meeting.

FURTHER REQUESTS the Secretariat before IWC/59 to develop options for the implementation of French and Spanish at future meetings of the Commission, including possible time frame and cost implications for a final decision to be taken at the 2007 IWC Annual Meeting.