5
December 2008 - Australia's global leadership
in whale conservation has been confirmed
today with the announcement of an additional
$26 million in measures over the next five
years to create the largest international
whale research program in the world, focused
on answering the important science about
southern ocean whales and utilising the
most powerful non-lethal techniques.
Environment Minister
Peter Garrett said the funding would ensure
that the new Southern Ocean Research Partnership
was properly resourced to continue to at
least 2013-14, providing the opportunity
for longer term, coordinated and comprehensive
non-lethal whale and cetacean research with
international partners.
"This financial
commitment underpins the comprehensive reform
agenda that Australia has taken to the International
Whaling Commission and sends a very clear
message around the world about this Government's
determination to debunk once and for all
the notion that we need to kill whales to
understand them.
"Our reform package
is the most significant ever taken to the
IWC, charting a new era for whale conservation.
After making good progress at the IWC meeting
in Chile in June and subsequent meetings,
we're hopeful of further progress at the
upcoming reform working group meeting in
Cambridge, United Kingdom, later this week.
"For over two decades,
the debate over 'scientific' whaling has
been gridlocked in claim and counter claim,
and all the while, the number of whales
targeted by Japan in the Southern Ocean
has increased - in particular, doubling
between 2004-05 and 2005-06.
"It is not enough
to simply say that there are non-lethal
alternatives; we need to demonstrate conclusively
that there is no scientific merit in the
Japanese whaling program and that it is
not necessary to kill whales to understand
them.
"This significant
investment in world-leading science, much
of it co-ordinated through the Australian
Marine Mammal Centre in Hobart, will transform
the whaling debate.
"It will create
the largest international whale research
program in the world, focused on answering
the important science about southern ocean
whales and utilising the most powerful non-lethal
techniques.
"Research will
also directly benefit whale conservation
in Australian waters through additional
support to the Australian science community
for strategic conservation needs. Examples
of this work include the centralising marine
mammal stranding and sighting data from
all jurisdictions in the Marine Mammal Centre,
and a world-first project to assess rescue
efforts for stranded whales.
Mr Garrett said the
package had three main components:
the Southern Ocean Research
Partnership will receive $11 million for
a series of innovative surveys in the Southern
Ocean using aircraft, ships and yachts to
deploy the latest non-lethal research techniques,
as well as tracking of whales along the
Australian coasts. Contributions are expected
from other nations that supported this measure
at the 2008 IWC meeting;
the Australian Marine Mammal Centre, co-located
at Hobart's Australian Antarctic Division,
will receive $14.5 million to conduct competitive
grants for applied, strategic research;
contestable post-doctoral research positions
in marine mammal research; funding for eight
marine mammal scientists; support for whale
research and capacity building initiatives
in Pacific Island countries and a series
of specialist workshops to build technical
capacity in non-lethal scientific techniques;
and
a further $0.5 million to provide policy
support for Australia's IWC objectives and
reform agenda.
"In addition, Australia will provide
a one-off voluntary contribution of $2 million
to the IWC for the development of conservation
management plans; collaborative regional
non-lethal research; and other priority
conservation initiatives.
"This investment
has been carefully designed to complement
Australia's intensive diplomatic work through
Australia's Special Envoy for Whale Conservation,
Mr Sandy Hollway, and the work of senior
officials in the IWC reform working group,''
Mr Garrett said.
"This scientific
research will underpin our argument against
scientific whaling in the IWC and at the
same time establish Australia as the Southern
Hemisphere's leader in marine mammal science,
accelerating our development of non-lethal
methods."
Mr Garrett said the
funds were in addition to the $6 million
for the Southern Ocean Research Partnership
for the current financial year announced
last month.
"Australia remains
absolutely committed to bringing about an
end to commercial and so-called 'scientific'
whaling and we will continue to take a comprehensive
and strategic approach to this issue, including
the consideration of international legal
action."
+ More
Australia calls for
responsible behaviour in the Southern Ocean
10 December 2008 - The
Australian Government remains resolute in
its opposition to commercial and so-called
'scientific' whaling and is deeply disappointed
at the recent departure of the Japanese
whaling fleet for the Southern Ocean.
Since coming to Government
we have strongly conveyed Australia's opposition
to the Japanese whaling program through
intense diplomatic engagement, including
through the work of our Special Envoy on
Whale Conservation.
We are aware that the
coming season's anticipated whaling activities
in the Southern Ocean are once again likely
to attract protests from the Sea Shepherd
Conservation Society.
The Australian Government
respects the right of individuals and groups
to protest peacefully. But no matter the
objective, we do not condone, indeed we
condemn, dangerous or violent activities,
including any activity that may jeopardise
safety at sea or could lead to injury or
loss of life.
The International Whaling
Commission has repeatedly urged all parties
to refrain from action that is a risk to
human life and property in relation to the
activities of vessels at sea.
At a meeting in March
this year, all members of the IWC collectively
called upon Sea Shepherd to refrain from
dangerous activities, and called on vessels
and crews concerned to exercise restraint.
The Australian Government
expects any unlawful activity to be dealt
with in accordance with relevant international
and domestic laws.
The Southern Ocean is
a remote and inhospitable region where the
risk of adverse incidents is high and the
capacity for rescue or assistance is low.
As the Government has repeatedly done in
the past, we call upon all parties to exercise
restraint and to ensure that safety at sea
is the highest priority.
