Deal Would Allow Whaling off Antarctica

The global future of whaling is being debated today at the Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete Beach. A proposed deal would legitimize hunting in waters off Antarctica.

Commercial whaling has been banned for nearly three decades. But nations such as Japan, Iceland and Norway have used a loophole that allows them to be killed for "research." Beginning today, members of the International Whaling Commission will meet to try to reach a compromise that would allow for some whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary near Antarctica for at least the next 10 years.

Karen Sack is director of international ocean conservation for the Pew Environment Group in Washington, D.C. She blames "political posturing" by the three countries for obscuring what should be the true mission of the whaling commission.

"They are under more threat today than they ever have been before," says Sack. "And it is really important that these countries step aside from their short-term self-interest and focus on what is important for the long-term health of our oceans."

The deal would allow "research whaling" near Antarctica in exchange for banning it in the South Atlantic Ocean - where Sack says no whaling takes place anyway.

Details of the IWC compromise, which can be found in the most recent Chair’s report to the IWC’s Small Working Group, can be found HERE.