Grenada withdraws A&B whaling bid, seeks scientific review of ban

By Kisean Joseph kisean. joseph@antiguaobserver. com Antigua and Barbuda’s whaling resolution has been provisionally withdrawn in Hobart, Australia, but a fresh request could still open the door to reviewing the moratorium. Grenada, acting on Antigua and Barbuda’s behalf, withdrew the proposal “conditionally” and requested scientific talks on reviewing paragraph 10(e), the clause containing the commercial whaling ban. Nicolas Entrup, director of international relations at OceanCare, who is observing the meeting, says there is a risk that the Commission could agree to such a mandate without a vote if no member objects. Entrup also said it was highly unusual for Grenada to withdraw on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda, and some contest the legality of the move, as Grenada is not a co-sponsor of the resolution.

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has postponed all voting at its 70th meeting until Friday. Delegates expect a heated debate. Grenada’s submitted text reads: “The proposal is conditionally withdrawn; however, in the interim, we are asking the Scientific Liaison Group (SLG) to discuss with the SC an accepted procedure for the commission to address its decisions for the review of paragraph 10 E. ” The SLG is a group of member countries through which the Commission directs requests to its Scientific Committee (SC). Entrup explained that the Scientific Committee and the Conservation Committee are the IWC’s two most important committees. Both are made up of leading scientists and only carry out research when the Commission mandates it. According to Entrup, Antigua and Barbuda now wants the IWC to mandate the Scientific Committee to examine how the moratorium could be lifted. In his view, a review of paragraph 10(e) amounts, in effect, to a review of the moratorium…