caribbean whale friends

Commentary: Whale-watching is a boom to Caribbean tourism

2009-11-10T13:04:00.000-08:00

October 27 : A study produced this year by group of independent economists located in Australia confirms that whale watching has become a boom to tourism in Central America and the Caribbean over the last ten years and is set to make a bigger contribution to the industry’s earnings. Caribbean Net News

Dominica: A Whale of a Pride

2009-04-17T11:31:00.000-07:00

March 30, Roseau: Following his decision to abstain from IWC participation last year, Prime Minister Skerritt has once more rejected notions of supporting Japan's agenda at the IWC as he declared that Dominica will be absent from IWC 61, to be held this June (2009) in Madeira, Portugal. This move enhances Dominica's reputation as the 'Nature Isle' of the Caribbean. BBC

Editorial: Bad deals for whales, the Caribbean

2008-12-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

December 8: Ronald Sanders is a former Caribbean diplomat, now a corporate executive who publishes widely on small states in the international community. Here, he speaks about Japan's likely imminent about-face move to snub OECS nations in tax negotiations: the same nations who have dutifully supported Japan's whaling positions over the last several years. Antigua Sun

Caribbean Whale Friends writes series for GoWeb

2008-10-17T13:41:00.001-07:00

Check out the first of our four part series on whales and dolphins in the Caribbean, featured on GoWeb Caribbean!

Whale diplomacy the Japanese way

2008-06-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

Santiago, Chile -- June 26, 2008: In a cautious overture aimed at bridging the divide on whaling, Japan has called on its opponents to give a little ground so that it can move. After conceding to suspend the kill of Australian humpbacks, Japan wants anti-whaling nations to make some concession themselves, its chief negotiator, Joji Morishita, said on Wednesday on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Chile. Sydney Morning Herald

Group seeking consensus on International Whaling Commission has uphill job

2008-06-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

Santiago, Chile -- June 26, 2008: Two-dozen members of the International Whaling Commission on Thursday begin the uphill task of reconciling differences between pro- and anti-whaling countries that have paralyzed the commission in recent years. The working committee includes pro-whaling countries Japan, Iceland and Norway, as well as staunch hunting opponents Australia and New Zealand. Associated Press.

Whaling body agrees path to peace

2008-06-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

Santiago, Chile -- June 25, 2008: The global body responsible for whales and whaling has opened the door to the eventual partial lifting of the commercial whaling ban. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) adopted a reform path aimed at finding compromise between pro- and anti-hunting countries. Delegates at the Commission's annual meeting in Chile agreed the current impasse should not continue. Governments will try to agree a package of measures by next year's IWC meeting. BBC News

Safe, for Now

2008-06-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

Santiago, Chile -- June 25, 2008: Consensus is not what the International Whaling Commission (IWC) usually forges. Pro- and anti-whaling nations are divided by plenty of deep blue water over whether whales should be hunted or not. But at the organisation’s annual meeting this week in Santiago, Chile’s capital, consensus is what the participants have decided to try for. On Tuesday June 24th the consensus-building began: the participants agreed that they would put off making any big decisions until next year’s meeting in Madeira. The Economist

Roseau skips out on Whaling Commission

2008-06-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

Dominica -- June 25, 2008: In addition to abstaining on a vote for the sustainable use of marine resources, Roseau will not be represented at the 60th International Whaling Commission in Chile, which got on the way on Monday.The Roosevelt Skerrit government announced earlier this month that it would break its voting trend and abstain on a commercial whaling vote. Skerrit said the change in position was in the best interest of the country at this time. But his labour party administration did not indicate whether it would attend the meeting believed to be funded by Japan in previous years. Dominica news online

Divided international whaling commission puts off contentious votes to mend fences

2008-06-26T12:49:00.000-07:00

Santiago, Chile -- June 24, 2008: A deadlock between pro- and anti-whaling nations led the International Whaling Commission on Tuesday to delay any voting on controversial proposals such as new whaling rights and sanctuaries while it addresses bitter divisions among members.
The 81-nation organization for conserving whales and managing hunting appointed a committee to overcome differences that led Japan on Monday warn it could reduce its participation and financial contributions. Associated Press

Chilean President Pushes Whaling Ban

2008-06-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

Santiago, Chile -- June 23, 2008: President Michelle Bachelet pushed to permanently ban whaling along Chile's sprawling coast at the opening Monday of the weeklong International Whaling Commission meeting.Bachelet endorsed making Chile's coastal waters -- more than 3,100 miles long and up to 200 miles from shore -- a whale sanctuary. The proposal still must be approved by Congress. Los Angeles Times

No More Yen for Whales

2008-06-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

Dominica -- June 22, 2008: Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerritt, and his cabinet have taken a decision that will not endear them to the Japan Whaling Association or to some of the governments in nearby Caribbean states. It may however, help to stop the wanton slaughter of hundreds of whales every year and, at the same time, contribute to a growing tourist attraction in the Caribbean – whale watching. Skerritt has announced, in advance of the 60th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) on June 23rd, that the country’s representative will abstain on a vote for "the sustainable use of marine resources” meaning the killing of whales. St. Kitts & Nevis Democrat

Whaling Commission's Future to be Tested in Chile

2008-06-26T12:33:00.000-07:00

Santiago, Chile -- June 21, 2008: An International Whaling Commission meeting in Chile next week could decide the future of the deeply split panel as Japan, one of its most powerful members and the world's biggest whaler, seeks a compromise. Some 80 countries at the Santiago meeting will take up issues ranging from whale stocks and whale killing methods to the booming business of whale watching. The first IWC meeting in South America in 23 years, which runs Monday through Friday, also looks set to define the Latin America bloc of countries as the new champion of the world's biggest mammals. Reuters

Op-Ed in Antigua Sun criticizes Japanese vote-buying

2008-06-16T08:01:00.000-07:00

ANTIGUA -- June 16, 2008: Former Caribbean diplomat Sir Ronald Sanders writes in the Antigua Sun congratulating Dominica's recent decision and urges other Caribbean nations to follow suit. He debunks the value of Japan's fisheries aid as well as the myths upon which Japan's case for whaling rests. Antigua Sun

BREAKING NEWS: Dominica Drops Support for Commercial Whaling

2008-06-10T07:25:00.000-07:00

ROSEAU Dominica -- June 9, 2008: Two weeks before the opening of the 60th Annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission, Prime Minister Skerrit has announced that Dominica will no longer support Japan in voting for commercial whaling. Dominica, the 'Nature Isle,' is well-known for its resident sperm whales and other whale watching opportunities. The Prime Minister said it was in the best interests of the country. Forbes

Caribbean Whales on the Today Show!

2008-03-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

NBC reporter Kerry Sanders was in the Dominican Republic to report on the Humpback migration and discuss the future of the species at the International Whaling Commission meeting in June. Watch the video here!

Australia releases graphic whaling photos

2008-02-07T04:39:00.000-08:00

SYDNEY, Australia -- 7 February 2008: Australia has released graphic pictures of minke whales caught by a Japanese hunt in the Antarctic. Canberra claimed the pictures, taken by customs officers tracking the hunt, show a harpooned mother and calf being dragged from the sea. BBC News.

Whale Species in the Caribbean

2008-02-06T09:41:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest article in our ongoing series that GoWeb Caribbean has generously offered to host-find out which whales live near you!

Whale Species in the Caribbean: Who lives here?

Australian minister warns Japan of whale action

2008-02-01T07:58:00.000-08:00

TOKYO, Japan -- February 1, 2008: Australia's foreign minister warned Friday of tougher action to stop Japan whaling, despite calls for calm from both sides over the increasingly emotive dispute. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith held talks in Tokyo just as Japan was reported to have resumed killing whales in the Antarctic Ocean following a two-week halt under pressure from environmental protesters. (AFP)

Five whales killed as Japan resumes slaughter

2008-01-31T08:20:00.000-08:00

LONDON, United Kingdom -- January 31, 2008: Japan has resumed its slaughter of whales in the Southern Ocean - and now stands condemned by the world. Officers aboard the Australian Customs vessel Oceanic Viking witnessed the killing of whales - believed to be minke - about 3pm. Witnesses reported seeing up to five whales harpooned and then hauled on to the factory ship Nisshin Maru. Daily Telegraph.

Costa Rica Bans Whale and Dolphin Hunting

2008-01-23T08:48:00.000-08:00

Costa Rica -- January 22, 2008: Whales and dolphins join the ranks of the free in Costa Rica, following a decree signed Saturday by President Oscar Arias protecting these marine mammals in all of Costa Rica's expansive ocean territory. The decree forbids the "pursuit, capture, injury, netting or commercialization" of all whale and dolphin species on the country's expansive, 640,000 square-kilometer marine territory, the largest in Central America. Tico Times.

Greenpeace tries to stop whaler from refuelling

2008-01-22T07:33:00.000-08:00

SYDNEY Australia -- January 22, 2008: Greenpeace activists on an inflatable boat are attempting to block the Japanese whaling factory ship from refuelling in Antarctic waters, the environment group says. The protesters today have been navigating their inflatable between the Nisshin Maru and fuel ship the Oriental Bluebird. Sydney Morning Herald

Stop whale hunt: court

2008-01-22T07:25:00.001-08:00

SYDNEY Australia January 15, 2008: In a case brought before an Australian Federal Court by the Humane Society International, the judge has ruled that the Japanese whaling fleet is operating illegally by taking whales in Australia's own whale sanctuary. Japan fails to recognize Australia's Antarctic claims or the whale sanctuary. Sydney Morning Herald

Greenpeace Finds Japan's Whalers

2008-01-22T07:24:00.001-08:00

SYDNEY, Australia -- January 12, 2008: A Greenpeace ship on Saturday confronted a Japanese whaling fleet that had initially planned to hunt protected humpbacks, the environmentalists said -- setting off the latest round of cat-and-mouse in a sometimes dangerous feature of the hunting debate. Associated Press.

Australia whale monitors set off to shadow Japanese

2008-01-22T07:23:00.001-08:00

CANBERRA, Australia -- January 9, 2008: An Australian fisheries patrol ship left port on Wednesday to shadow Japan's whaling fleet near Antarctica and gather evidence for an international court challenge to halt the yearly slaughter. Reuters.