Australia vows end to scientific whaling

Australia is vowing to continue its push to stamp out scientific whaling, as a
report found humans were an increasing threat to whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett will represent Australia at the
International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Portugal next week.
The meeting comes as the Global Cetacean Summary Report, published on Friday, showed
the animals were increasingly threatened by human activities, including hunting,
habitat degradation and climate change impacts.
"What this report shows is that while some species and populations have started to
recover, many continue to be threatened, with the risk some could be driven to
extinction in the near future," Mr Garrett said.
Mr Garrett said the report also highlighted the need for more scientific information
on cetacean species.
"The release of this report further strengthens Australia's drive to end so-called
scientific whaling," Mr Garrett said.
"Future research should use non-lethal methods and be based on rigorous science."
Earlier this week, the federal government flagged plans to put forward a proposal at
the IWC for all scientific research to be brought under the authority of the
commission.
The proposal will reinforce that whale research activities needs to be underpinned
by a genuine scientific research requirement.
If its diplomatic efforts to end whaling fail, Australia says it is still
considering taking legal action against Japan to stop it killing the mammals.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith indicated Australia was leaving open the option of
taking legal action against Japan on whaling through the International Court of
Justice or the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
"If we get to the stage where we think our diplomatic efforts are being exhausted
... then we continue to leave open the possibility and the prospect of international
legal action," Mr Smith told Sky News.
New Zealand has a vessel in the Southern Ocean that will conduct research on whales
over six weeks to show scientific studies do not have to be lethal.
Mr Garrett said Australia would be advocating non-lethal whaling research.
"We've got good support, incidentally, from other countries," Mr Garrett told ABC
Radio.
"If we're going to have a proper discussion about so-called scientific whaling, then
we believe that the science needs to be robust."