started · updated
South Atlantic whale protection area proposal fails at IWC conference
The proposal to establish a new whale protection area in the South Atlantic has failed once again at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) conference in Hobart, Australia. The initiative, originally introduced by Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay in the late 1990s, fell short of the required three-quarters majority by four votes.
If approved, the area would have been the third major whale sanctuary in the world, following existing protections in the Antarctic and the Indian Ocean. The proposed zone was estimated to be more than twice the size of the United States.
Environmental organization Greenpeace noted that while supporters like Germany voted in favor, key allies such as Finland and Luxembourg were not present on Tasmania during the negotiations. Opponents, including Norway, Ivory Coast, and several Caribbean nations, maintained their blockade. Environmentalists expressed frustration, noting that Japan has reportedly formed an alliance with certain African and Caribbean states to represent its interests within the commission following its exit from the IWC in 2019.
Additionally, it was reported that Switzerland withdrew a resolution concerning the protection of dolphins and small whales during the proceedings.
Entities
Greenpeace · Hobart · International Whaling Commission · Japan · Norway
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Switzerland withdrew a resolution regarding the protection of dolphins and small whales. www.volksfreund.de · www.wz.de
- [● 9 SOURCES] The International Whaling Commission (IWC) held its conference in Hobart, Australia. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · www.zeit.de · www.nn.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The proposed South Atlantic protection area would be more than twice the size of the United States. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · www.zeit.de · www.nn.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The proposal was originally introduced by Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay in the late 1990s. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · www.zeit.de · www.nn.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Norway, Ivory Coast, and several Caribbean states are among the countries blocking the protection area. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · www.zeit.de · www.nn.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The proposal for a South Atlantic whale protection area missed the required three-quarters majority by four votes. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.halternerzeitung.de · www.zeit.de · www.nn.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · +4 more