To withdraw from the IWC indicated - to resume commercial whaling

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

ＩＷＣから脱退表明 商業捕鯨再開へ

2018年12月26日 11時23分

日本が目指す商業捕鯨の再開などをめぐって国際的な対立が続く中、菅官房長官は記者会見で、ＩＷＣ＝国際捕鯨委員会から脱退し、来年７月から商業捕鯨を再開することを表明しました。

この中で菅官房長官は「来年７月から商業捕鯨を再開することとし、国際捕鯨取締条約から脱退することを決定した」と述べ、来年７月からの商業捕鯨の再開に向けてＩＷＣから脱退することを表明しました。

その理由について「持続可能な商業捕鯨の実施を目指して30年以上にわたり、解決策を模索してきた。しかしながら、鯨資源の保護のみ重視する国々からの歩み寄りは見られず、ことし９月のＩＷＣ総会で鯨資源の持続的利用の立場と保護の立場の共存が不可能であることが改めて明らかになり、今回の決断に至った」と述べました。

また、菅官房長官は国際捕鯨取締条約で、来月１日までにＩＷＣからの脱退を、取りまとめ役のアメリカ政府に通告すれば、来年６月30日に脱退できるとされていることを踏まえ、年内に、外交ルートを通じて、アメリカ政府に通告する考えを示しました。

そして、脱退の効力が発生する来年７月から再開する商業捕鯨について、日本の領海とＥＥＺ＝排他的経済水域に限定し南極海や南半球では行わないとしたうえで、国際法に従いＩＷＣで採択された方式により算出される捕獲枠の範囲内で行うとしています。

さらに菅官房長官は、脱退は25日の閣議で決定したとしたうえで、発表が26日になった理由について「脱退にかかる関係国との調整を含め、諸般の事情を総合的に判断した結果だ」と説明しました。

また、菅官房長官は記者団が「ＩＷＣとは別に新たな国際的な枠組みづくりを目指すつもりか」と質問したのに対し「将来的には新たな国際的な枠組み作りも検討していきたい。毎年、鯨の持続的利用という立場を共有する国々との会合を開催しており、これらの場を通じて関係強化を図っていきたい」と述べました。

Translation

Amidst the continuing international opposition concerning Japan’s resumption of commercial whaling, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kan in a press conference expressed that Japan would withdraw from the IWC = International Whaling Commission and resume commercial whaling from July next year.

In this conference Chief Cabinet Secretary Kan stated that "commercial whaling would be resumed from July next year, as such, it was decided to withdraw from the international whaling control treaty”. Heading towards a resumption of commercial whaling from July of next year, the withdrawal from the IWC was expressed.

Regarding the reason for that, it was stated that "more than 30 years had passed since we aimed at searching for a possible way to implement a sustainable commercial whaling. However, from those countries which only emphasized the protection of whale resources, compromise was not seen. At the IWC general meeting in September of this year, it was clearly shown once more that coexistence was impossible for the viewpoint of continuous use, and the viewpoint of protecting the whale resources; based on that the present decision was made."

Also, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kan said that if Japan announced the withdrawal by 1st of next month from IWC in following the International Whaling Regulation Treaty which the US government was the organizing committee, based on that, the country could withdraw on June 30 next year. He showed his thought on notifying the US government through a diplomatic route by the end of the year.

Also, about the commercial whaling which would be resumed from July next year after the withdrawal taken effect, on top of limiting the whaling to Japanese territorial waters and the EEZ= exclusive economic zone, whaling would not be carried out  in the Antarctic Ocean and the Southern Hemisphere; it would be within the limits of catch quotas calculated according to international law adopted by the IWC.

Furthermore, besides touching on the withdrawal which was decided at a cabinet meeting on the 25th, Kan the Chief Cabinet Secretary also talked about the reason why it was announced on the 26^th; he explained that "it is the result of comprehensive judgment of various circumstances including adjustment with countries that have a concern on the withdrawal."

Also, in response to inquire of the press corps asking "will Japan aim at making new international structure apart from the IWC?", Chief Cabinet Secretary Kan stated that "He'd like also to consider making new international structure in the future. A meeting of countries which share the viewpoint on continuous use of whales is being held every year, he'd like to plan for reinforcing relation with them through this venue."

         It is disappointing to know that Japan will leave IWC.