The pro-whaling block was triumphant after forcing a resolution which branded the ban "no longer necessary" through the International Whaling Commission's annual meeting with a one-vote margin.

Environmentalists at the IWC meeting in the Caribbean state of St. Kitts and Nevis called the vote "tragic."

"This is a historic event," said Joji Morishita, Japan's top IWC delegate.

Hideki Moronuki, head of the whaling section of the Fisheries Agency, cautioned against exaggerating the impact of the vote.

"If the moratorium were truly eliminated, we would be overjoyed. But it will take a bit more time for that to happen."

Farm minister Shoichi Nakagawa said the vote showed that the opponents of whaling were now outnumbered by "voices calling for a normalization of whale resource management."

"Our country will continue our efforts for the resumption of sustainable whaling based on scientific data."

Patrick Ramage of the International Fund for Animal Welfare accused Japan of using underhanded tactics.

"Japan wants to kill whales and they are willing to kill the IWC to do it."

But the moratorium, enforced since 1986, stands today because it needs a 75 percent supermajority to be overturned. Japan abides by the moratorium but conducts some "research" whaling through what opponents say is a loophole in the IWC charter, as does Iceland.

The resolution, known as the St. Kitts and Nevis resolution, passed by 33 to 32 votes with one abstention. Its text argues that whales deplete fish stocks, and that some nongovernmental organizations use "threats" in the anti-whaling campaign.

Though the nonbinding resolution does not mean the 20-year-old moratorium will be overturned, the vote is a symbolic triumph for countries determined to eventually resume commercial whaling.

The Japan Times Weekly: June 24, 2006
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