Senate Concurrent Resolution 33--Expressing the Sense of the Congress Regarding the Policy of the U.S. at. . . .the International Whaling Commision
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 33--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES AT THE 57TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION -- (Senate - May 16, 2005)
Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Levin, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. McCain, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Collins, Mr. Biden, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. DODD, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Reed, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Pryor, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. Akaka) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Con. Res. 33
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Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution that is both timely and vital to the future of the world's large whale populations. In little more than a month, representatives from around the world will gather in South Korea for the 57th annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission. These representatives will consider proposals to weaken or lift the moratorium on commercial whaling and expand whaling operations around the globe. It is more critical than ever that the United States remains firmly opposed to any proposals to resume commercial whaling and maintain its leadership role in shaping global whale conservation policies through the Commission.
The Commission's early attempts to regulate commercial whaling did not stop the precipitous decline of whale populations around the world. This management failure exposed a dramatic lack of knowledge and understanding of whales and their environment. In response to dwindling whale populations, the Commission declared a global moratorium on commercial whaling in 1982. The United States was a leader in the efforts to establish this moratorium, and in the intervening decades we have continued our outspoken opposition to commercial whaling.
My colleagues and I are submitting this resolution to give needed support to the U.S. negotiators as they strive to preserve vital whale conservation measures through the International Whaling Commission. Pro-whaling countries have made clear, through numerous media outlets, that they plan to work to lift the moratorium at this year's meeting, a move that threatens to undo years of international efforts to recover whale populations. As a Nation we must stand firmly against lifting of the moratorium and the resumption of commercial whaling. But we cannot stop there. As we continue our international efforts for effective, global whale conservation we must work to close loopholes in, and end abuses of, Commission regulations. This resolution calls for the closing of a scientific whaling loophole that some countries are exploiting to allow whaling, not just in the open ocean, but in designated whale sanctuaries. Lethal scientific whaling is an outdated concept that serves no useful purpose; even the Commission's own Scientific Committee has called for the cessation of this practice. In addition to the scientific whaling provision, some countries choose to take reservations to the moratorium under which they continue to expand commercial whaling activities year after year. These unilateral actions weaken the Commission and undermine international whale conservation efforts; therefore, they must be brought to an end.
We must consider the future as we strive to ensure the sustainability of the world's whale populations. At this year's meeting, the Commission may address the critical issue of a Revised Management Scheme, or RMS, to govern whale conservation in future years. As we consider possible management systems, it is imperative that we build any RMS on a solid foundation of scientific knowledge and sustainability. If our Nation is to support any RMS, we must ensure that it addresses the need for additional research and ensure that all whaling outside the scheme ceases immediately. Any RMS that we are party to must also include provisions that we find in other international fisheries agreements, such as transparency in decision making, objective observers, and effective compliance mechanisms.
I thank my colleagues who have already signed on as co-sponsors of this resolution for their continuing commitment to marine conservation: Senators CANTWELL, LEVIN, KENNEDY, MCCAIN, LIEBERMAN, KERRY, COLLINS, BIDEN, JEFFORDS, DODD, LAUTENBERG, REED, WYDEN, BOXER, FEINSTEIN, PRYOR, and AKAKA. Their dedication to responsible protection and management of our whale populations helps ensure the healthy functioning of marine ecosystems for generations to come.
Whales constitute a vital component of the world's marine ecosystems. Whales are some of the largest and most intelligent mammals on Earth, and conserving them requires us to uphold strong international agreements and an unwavering commitment to science-based management. Supporting whale conservation is more critical now than ever, and I urge my colleagues to support swift passage of this resolution.
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