No consensus reached on whaling during IWC meeting

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Source: CCTV.com | 06-28-2008 09:23

A week-long International Whaling Commission meeting has wrapped up in Chile. Anti-whaling nations failed to reach a consensus on a number of issues with Japan, the world's leading hunter of whales.

Chairman of the International Whaling Commission US' Bill  Hogarth (L) speaks during the International Whaling Commission  (IWC) meeting in Santiago.(AFP/Martin Bernetti)

Japan catches about 1,000 whales each year for what it terms scientific research, despite of a non-binding 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling.

Anti-whaling nations, led by Australia, have voiced deep concern at Japan's skirting of the moratorium.

Seeking to avoid confrontation among its 80 members, the International Whaling Commission, or IWC, set up a working group in an attempt to build consensus over the next year.

Bill Hogarth, Chairman International Whaling Commission, said, "I really sense that commissioners want to find the way for the IWC to move forward, and you know and I know that there are some really tough issues here so it is going to take a lot of diplomacy, a lot of hard work."