§ Angela SmithTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Government support the planned joint proposal by Australia and New Zealand to the International Whaling Commission for a whale sanctuary in the Southern Pacific; and if the Government will be actively seeking support from other International Whaling Commission countries for the proposal. [76025]
§ Mr. MorleyThe UK Government strongly support the current International Whaling Commission (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling and the existing whale sanctuaries. We are opposed to all forms of whaling other than some limited subsistence whaling by indigenous people, and would like to see a permanent, comprehensive international ban on whaling introduced.
We are keen to develop ways of further these objectives and of improving the conservation of whales. We are therefore in favour of the proposal being developed jointly by Australia and New Zealand for a South Pacific Whale Sanctuary, and will strongly support any firm proposal for such a sanctuary that is submitted to the IWC.