WILLIAMS VOICES CONCERN OVER POSSIBLE RELAXATION OF WHALING REGULATIONS

12.43.14pm GMT Tue 23rd Feb 2010

Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Liberal Democrat Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson, has voiced his concern over reports that plans to reach a compromise that would potentially legalise commercial whaling are being considered by the International Whaling Commission (IFC)

Roger Williams said:

"The news coming from the IWC that commercial whaling could be legalised for the first time since 1986 is extremely concerning.

"The current moratorium has not prevented Japan, Norway or Iceland from commercially hunting whales and any further increase in this practice would be outrageous.

"I recently raised this issue with the Minister at the Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs to seek assurances that this would not be allowed to happen and I hope the Minister and the Secretary of State will do all they can to prevent further relaxation on the rules surrounding the hunting of whales when the issue is discussed in March."

NOTES:

That compromise proposed is out today: (http://www.iwcoffice.org/_documents/commission/future/IWC-M10-SWG4.pdf )

The draft proposal will now be considered at an IWC working group meeting in St. Pete Beach, Florida beginning March 2. A version of the proposal will then be considered by the full membership of the IWC at June's annual meeting in Agadir, Morocco.

Mr Williams question to the Minister about Whaling can be found here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2010-02-04a.433.3&s=speaker%3A11324#g434.2