Whaling body upholds ban

THE International Whaling Commission yesterday voted to uphold a ban on commercial whaling, dealing a setback to Japan and its allies who favour a resumption.

Commission members voted 29-23 against the proposal at their meeting in Ulsan, South Korea, which needed a 75% majority to pass. There were five abstentions, including countries that have often voted with Japan on other issues at the commission.

The 66-member commission, which regulates global whaling, banned commercial hunts in 1986, handing environmentalists a major victory in protecting the species. New Zealand Minister of Conservation Chris Carter, a delegate at the meeting, said his country was “absolutely delighted” with the vote. “This has been a very serious loss of face for Japan.”

Norway holds the world’s only commercial whaling season in defiance of the ban. Japan, Norway and other countries that advocate what they call “sustainable use” of whales are expected to kill more than 1,550 whales this year.