Agriculture Ministry Sets Record Straight On Whaling

Contact: John Emmanuel

Thursday, July 26, 2001 – The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has taken strong exception to misleading statements about the island’s position on whaling, made by the controversial U.S.-based environmental group, Sea Shepherd.

Sea Shepherd, well-known for its provocative and confrontational behaviour, is waging a smear campaign against St Lucia and other Eastern Caribbean countries whose position on whaling happens to coincide in some aspects with Japan’s.

Setting the record straight, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Dr. James Fletcher, made it clear that St. Lucia was not advocating a total resumption of commercial whaling as critics of the island’s whaling position were claiming.

“St. Lucia is in support of sustainable use of marine resources, sustainable use meaning that where it is determined that the levels of a resource are sufficient to allow some amount of harvesting in a manner that would not affect the viability of that species, then we support it and that is what we’ve supported,” he explained.

Dr. Fletcher spoke against the backdrop of this week’s meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in London. The IWC is the global  regulatory body for the whale trade.

 “What Japan has asked for,” Dr. Fletcher noted,  “…the IWC allowed for what it called an aboriginal subsistence take where certain aboriginal populations that have traditionally hunted whales, were allowed to continue hunting those whales, for example the Alaskan Eskimos.”

Dr. Fletcher said St. Lucia’s support for a resumption of whaling related only to those particular species that were considered not to be endangered and catches were allowed in the context of the aboriginal  subsistence take.

“I think it’s an insult of  St. Lucia’s sovereignty and an insult to our own intelligence to suggest that St. Lucia is selling its sovereignty and patrimony for one of two fisheries complexes,” said Dr. Fletcher, commenting on the smear campaign and the accusation that Japan has bribed St. Lucia  to support its position at the IWC.

He added: “St. Lucia’s vote at the IWC is based on scientific principles and scientific principles only. It just so happens that our position is congruent with that of Japan on the issue of resumption of commercial whaling involving one or two species. Yes, Japan does provide aid to St. Lucia, but the truth is Japan provides aid to over 150 countries and among those countries are those who very vehemently and publicly oppose whaling, countries such as Brazil, India.”  

-ends-

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