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Tokelau Declares Newest Pacific Whale Sanctuary, Highlights Global Momentum for Whale Conservation AUCKLAND, April 14, 2010 Tokelau, a territory in the South Pacific, declared its waters to be a whale sanctuary today, the eleventh such designation in the Pacific. The announcement took place at the start of a symposium marking the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium’s tenth anniversary. “Tokelau’s decision to declare its exclusive economic zone a sanctuary for whales is based on our firm belief that we share a common responsibility in the Pacific for the protection of these species. Whales don’t recognize national boundaries and Tokelau would be remiss if we failed to support our Pacific island neighbours in the quest to help recovery of the whales in our region,” said Honourable Aliki Faipule Foua Toloa of Tokelau. Despite a global moratorium on commercial whaling since 1986 and the establishment of the Southern Ocean as an international whale sanctuary in 1994, more than 1,500 whales are hunted and killed each year for their meat. Hundreds of thousands of whales and dolphins are also killed or harmed by ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and pollution; many species also face threats from the impacts of climate change. To address these challenges and identify new ways forward for strengthening whale conservation in the Pacific, experts from around the region and the world are gathered in Auckland from April 13 to 17. The conference has been organized by the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium (SPWRC) together with the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the Pew Environment Group and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Tokelau’s announced whale sanctuary will outlaw whaling throughout its 290,000 square kilometer Exclusive Economic Zone. Eleven Pacific nations and territories have now created sanctuaries protecting whales within their waters. These safe havens for Pacific whales are critical as many migrate south each year through national sanctuaries to the internationally recognized Southern Ocean whale sanctuary, which is located in the waters around Antarctica and is the summer feeding ground for whales. “The whale holds special cultural and spiritual significance in our islands and, in a sense, reminds us of our beginnings as migratory peoples. We believe that by working together and supporting sanctuaries, we will not only be giving whales a chance, but also potentially improving our ability to manage other ocean resources on which we depend for our livelihoods,” said Honourable Aliki Faipule Foua Toloa. Since the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) global moratorium on commercial whaling came into force in 1986, more than 30,000 whales have been killed by the few remaining whaling countries, including endangered and vulnerable species such as fin and sei whales. Japan, Iceland and Norway currently hunt whales through loopholes in the IWC’s rules. Only Japan continues to hunt whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. An advisory committee to the "Small Working Group on the Future of the IWC" is currently meeting in Washington, D.C., to negotiate a proposed way forward for the IWC to reduce the number of whales killed and end commercial hunting of whales that continues despite the moratorium. “We welcome Tokelau’s announcement in support of whale conservation today,” said Karen Sack, director of international ocean conservation for the Pew Environment Group. “There is a stark contrast between the growing number of countries declaring their commitment to whale conservation by establishing sanctuaries, and the negotiations on the future of the IWC. This international organization should reinforce its own whale safe havens on the high seas, particularly in the Southern Ocean, to complement and enhance country protections." “By declaring sanctuaries, Pacific Island states, like Tokelau, have clearly given their wish to see the global conflict over whales resolved so that these magnificent creatures can continue to be watched and enjoyed by future generations, and can fulfill their vital roles in the ocean ecosystems,” said Lui Bell, marine species officer for SPREP. “This is the United Nations’ International Year of Biodiversity, which is meant to reverse the decline and loss of species and habitats around the globe. From this important gathering in Auckland, we call on the member governments of the IWC who are meeting this week in Washington, DC to listen to the peoples of the Pacific, and take decisions that will truly benefit marine biodiversity conservation,” said Patrick Ramage, global whale program director for IFAW. BACKGROUND: The eleven Pacific nations and territories that have created whale sanctuaries within their waters are: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Niue, Papa New Guinea, Samoa, American Samoa, Tokelau and Vanuatu. The South Pacific Whale Research Consortium (SPWRC) was formed by independent scientists to investigate the status of humpback and other whale species in the region of Oceania, including New Zealand and eastern Australia. Members have been involved in field studies initiated as early as 1991 in New Caledonia, the Kingdom of Tonga, the Cook Islands and French Polynesia, as well as eastern Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific coast of South America, the Ross Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula. The consortium meets annually to compare and review data collected during each winter season, including individual identification photographs, genetic samples, sighting records and song recordings. CONTACT: |
Ocean Voices: Lessons from the Whales, is an international initiative of the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium (SPWRC) and the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in partnership with The Pew Environment Group , the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Auckland Museum. In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the SPWRC and the International Year of Biodiversity, the event will feature the story of Oceania’s humpback whales and their relationship with the people of Oceania, to be profiled to the region and the world as an ‘ocean voice’ for changes needed in the conservation management of cetaceans and the ocean they inhabit. The main event will be held in Auckland, New Zealand 6 – 9.30pm on the evening of Saturday, 17th, April, 2010 at the Auckland Museum. Ocean Voices will take us on a journey through the past, present and future, weaving together inspiring human stories of whaling, conservation, research and custodianship of endangered, Pacific-born, humpback whales. Hosted by Tonga’s Royal Patron of Whales, HRH Princess Pilolevu Tuita, and MC’d by renowned actor Rawiri Paratene, Ocean Voices will feature audio visual and spoken presentations culminating in a series of awards and international whale conservation announcements. This event will be attended by 300 international media, local and international government representatives, scientists, and celebrities. There will be limited room for the general public who will have an opportunity to attend the event through engaging local media. Places are very limited for this event. To register go to: Partners
Media Coverage - New Zealand Listener, Issue 3650 "Whale fail" (24-30 April 2010) - The Independent "Philip Hoare: Brutality on the high seas" (19 April 2010) - The Times "Britain accused of killing whales with support for hunt ban" (19 April 2010) - Pacific Scoop "Tonga and Tokelau stand staunch against commercial whaling push" (19 April 2010) - Pacific Scoop "Faipule launches whale sanctuary in Tokelau waters" (19 April 2010) - Solomon Times Online "Tokelau Declares Newest Pacific Whale Sanctuary, Highlights Global Momentum for Whale Cons" (19 April 2010) - 7th Space Interactive "Oregon State University scientists, documentary filmmakers and environmental advocates has uncovered an apparent illegal trade in whalemeat" (18 April 2010) - The Sunday Times "Save the whale – let some hunting resume" (18 April 2010) - The Sunday Times "Japan’s relentless urge to kill whales" (18 April 2010) - The Sunday Times "Ban on commercial whaling to be overturned" (18 April 2010) - Weekend Herald "Scientist with NZ ties gives details of whale-meat bust" (17 April 2010)
- Otago Daily Times "Whale of a problem despite glow of anti-nuclear stance" (17 April 2010) - ABC Radio Australia "Scientists trace Japanese whale meat to US restaurant" (16 April 2010) -Laboratory Equipment "DNA Tests Reveal Illegal Whale Trading" (16 April 2010) - New Zealand Herald "More than 5000 whales could be saved: report" (16 April 2010) - New Zealand Labour Party. Scoop Parliament "New Zealand out of step with Pacific on whaling" (16 April 2010) - Today on line "Whale meat illegally sold in Seoul" (16 April 2010) - TV3 News "Whale meat on sale at sushi bars" (16 April 2010) - ABC News "Humpbacks get allies in the South Pacific" (15 April 2010) - BBC News "Whaling peace plan to go forward this year" (15 April 2010) - The Gurdian "Whale hunting deal could limit Japan's catch" (15 April 2010) - Christian Science Monitor "Whale wars -- the uneasy hunt for a solution" (15 April 2010) - RADIO NEW ZEALAND "Tokelau whale sanctuary not discussed with MFAT" (15 April 2010) - OPB News "Whale Meat DNA Tested At OSU" (15 April 2010) - The New York Times Blog "From the Sea to a Sushi Plate, a Trail of DNA" (15 April 2010) - TVNZ "US leads bid to phase out whaling" (15 April 2010) - The Age "DNA tracks down illegal whale meat" (15 April 2010) - The Washington Post "DNA test finds whale meat illegally served in restaurants was from Japan hunt" (15 April 2010) - Global Adventure "Tokelau declares whale sanctuary" (14 April 2010) - TV3 news "Good news for the anti-whaling lobby" (14 April 2010) - TV3 News "Japanese catch almost 500 fewer whales than expected" (14 April 2010) - The Associated Press "Tiny Tokelau declares 11th Pacific whale sanctuary" (14 April 2010) - BBC Asia Pacific "Tokelau declares whale sanctuary in South Pacific" (14 April 2010) - London Evening Standard "Pacific islands of Tokelau to protect whales" (14 April 2010) - New Scientist "Forensic DNA blow to commercial whaling proposals" (14 April 2010) - New York Times "U.S. Leads New Bid to Phase Out Whale Hunting" (14 April 2010) - RADIO NEW ZEALAND "Tokelau declares its waters a whale sanctuary" (14 April 2010) - RADIO NEW ZEALAND "Tokelau joins Pacific whale sanctuary" (14 April 2010) - RADIO NEW ZEALAND "Tokelau declares whale sanctuary in its waters" (14 April 2010) - RADIO NEW ZEALAND "Environmental groups welcome Tokelau’s whale sanctuary move" (14 April 2010) - RADIO NEW ZEALAND "NZ has yet to discuss whale sanctuary proposal with Tokelau" (14 April 2010)
- 3 News "Good news for the anti-whaling lobby - Video" (14 April 2010). - TVNZ ONE News "NZ whaling decision angers Pacific nations" (13 April 2010) - Coff's Coast Advocate "Identification in the whale tail" (13 April 2010) - Nature News "Illegal whale meat tracked back to Japan" (13 April 2010) - Wired Science "DNA Testing Finds Endangered Whale Meat in Restaurants" (13 April 2010) - TV NZ "NZ whaling decision angers Pacific nations" (13 April 2010) |
