IWC 70 Day Three
This was a busy day. It began with Switzerland announcing that it was withdrawing its resolution on small cetaceans because, in part, of the burden it would place on the already stressed Scientific Committee. There was also an update on the quorum discussion which is making progress but still a work in progress.
The first item on Day Three’s agenda was the report of the Finance and Administration Committee. That discussion opened with a presentation by an outside reviewer of the operation of the Secretariat. This clearly showed that the Secretariat, though doing its best to deal with the tasks the Commission hands it, is overwhelmed by the magnitude and complexity of what it the Commission asks. Simply put, the Secretariat needs more resources. Way more.
This gave me an opportunity to make my intervention, which I was able to do before the morning coffee break. My suggestion that the Commission establish an Endowment Fund with an initial 100 million USD which would provide 3-5 million USD annually was well received. At the morning break the Chair came over to me and thanked me for it. I do believe that if the Commission acts on my suggestion, it will transform the Commission’s finances and enable it to do far more than it presently can. Presently, it is reliant on member fees and contributions. Much time was spent during the Finance and Administration session on the question of dues paid by members. It was being proposed that there should be an increase of 6%. Many contracting members made known that any increase in fees will be a challenge that their governments may not be willing to undertake. The idea was therefore, sent back to the Budget Committee for further review and revision. Norway mentioned that they would be agreeable if the figure was closer to 3%.
My intervention was followed by one from Chris Wold of the Global Law Alliance for Animals who suggested changes to the proposed Code of Conduct should be considered so that its terms, especially those centred on harassment and bullying, become clearer to avoid misinterpretation and misuse. This was taken under consideration and sent back for further discussion.
There were many other pertinent interventions during the day. During the whale killing methods discussion it was revealed that Norway no longer records time to death data. A similar disturbing picture emerged from Iceland’s Fin whale hunt. Among whales not killed immediately, the median time to death was 11.5 minutes and some whales needed to be shot multiple times. Two whales took one to two hours to die. [Hvalavinir- Whale Friends Ocean Protection]
Mark presented, on behalf of Dolphin Connection, an intervention later in the day which pointed out the IWC’s shortcomings with regard to Indigenous relationships with whales beyond whaling. This intervention also noted the USA’s insistence that the term “climate change’ not appear in IWC documents. It has been the “elephant in the room” ever since the recent virtual committee meetings prior to Plenary, with most nations hoping to avoid stirring up difficulties with the US.
Day 3 concluded with member delegates heading off for further discussions in the working groups in preparation for the upcoming Day 4.
Paul Spong
