www.environment.gov.au/coasts/publications/pubs/fishing-for-facts-brochure.pdf
www.environment.gov.au/coasts/publications/pubs/fishing-for-facts-factsheets.pdf
 

 

Skip navigation links About us | Contact us | Publications | What's new

Whale and Dolphin Conservation

You are here: Environment home > Coasts and oceans > Marine species > Whales, dolphins and porpoises
Skip navigation

Whales, dolphins & porpoises
Whales home
-->
Protecting whales
Whale species
Permits
Whale watching
Legislation
Research & conservation
Australian Whale Sanctuary
International protection
History
Rescue
Sightings
Whales & sound
Industry information
Media & publications
Write to your Sister City
Ambergris
For kids
For teachers Whales in the...
Antarctic
Great Barrier Reef
Great Australian Bight
-->

Rescue HOTLINES

Tasmania
0427 942 537
Queensland
1300 130 372
New South Wales
02 9415 3333
South Australia
08 8552 3677
Western Australia
08 9474 9055
Victoria
0500 540 000
Northern Territory
08 8999 4536

Entanglements
The effect that entanglements can have on cetaceans is a concern to the Australian Government. Most whales and dolphins are at risk in some way from entanglements; as a result of rubbish, marine debris or marine industry activities.
Some large whale species (humpback whales and southern right whales) which make annual migrations to Australian waters to breed and give birth are making a gradual recovery from the impacts of whaling last century. This recovery has coincided with the growth in coastal development, fishing activities, aquaculture and other off shore infrastructure. Much of this activity is within the migratory paths of these marine mammals. As a result there has been an increase in the reported incidence of whale entanglement in Australian waters in recent years. This issue is not confined to our region, with reports of whale entanglements on the increase throughout the world.
While the issue of entanglements is starting to be addressed by a number of industries within Australia there is no simple solution to the problem. This is because entanglement is a complex and difficult issue requiring the development and implementation of long-term strategies. The Australian Government will continue to invest in addressing the issue of entanglements over the coming years.
What is Australia doing about Entanglements
Entanglement can cause serious injury and distress to the animals and may result in the animal dying. Government agencies around the coast coordinate activities to disentangle whales whenever possible. Disentangling a whale is a very skilful exercise and can also be dangerous. For this reason disentanglement training is essential to ensure government staff have the skills and expertise to perform this extremely important task. The Australian Government runs annual national disentanglement workshops.
The objectives of the workshops are:

To share knowledge about methods for disentangling large whales (especially southern right and humpback whales) from fishing gear/shark nets/ marine debris;
To raise awareness of the issues involved in large whale entanglements, and promote a safe and effective approach to dealing with entanglements;
To discuss measures for minimising the occurrence of large whale entanglements; and
To promote the establishment of a national information-sharing network for people involved in large whale disentanglements.

To further reduce the long term risk of whale entanglements Australia is working with the commercial fishing industry to ensure that fishing equipment is whale and dolphin friendly.
Should you come across an entangled whale or dolphin, please report it to your State Environment Department as soon as possible.
Stranding and Animal Rescue Hotlines

Tasmania

Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment

Ph: 0427 942 537

Queensland

Environment Protection Agency

Ph: 1300 130 372

New South Wales

ORRCA

Ph: 02 9415 3333

South Australia

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Ph: 08 8552 3677

SA Whale Centre

Ph: 08 8552 5644

Western Australia

Wildcare

Ph: 08 9474 9055

Victoria

Wildline

Ph: 0500 540 000

Northern Territory

Wildlife Rescue

Ph: 08 8999 4536

Top
About us
Contact us
Databases and maps
Publications
Site index
What's new

Accessibility
Disclaimer
Privacy
© Commonwealth of Australia
australia.gov.au

Last updated: Thursday, 09-Aug-2007 17:00:03 EST

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
Telephone: +61 (0)2 6274 1111
ABN

© Commonwealth of Australia

 

Skip navigation links About us | Contact us | Publications | What's new

Whale and Dolphin Conservation

You are here: Environment home > Coasts and oceans > Marine species > Whales, dolphins and porpoises > International whale protection
Skip navigation

International whale protection

Whale sanctuaries
Policy
About the IWC
2006 IWC meeting
2007 IWC meeting
FAQs

Whales, dolphins & porpoises
Whales home
-->
Protecting whales
Whale species
Permits
Whale watching
Legislation
Research & conservation
Australian Whale Sanctuary
International protection
History
Rescue
Sightings
Whales & sound
Industry information
Media & publications
Write to your Sister City
Ambergris
For kids
For teachers Whales in the...
Antarctic
Great Barrier Reef
Great Australian Bight
-->

Key

   Links to an another web site
   Opens a pop-up window

2006 International Whaling Commission meeting
Pro-conservation nations, led by Australia, managed to block attempts by pro-whaling countries which were seeking a return to commercial whaling at the International Whaling Commission held on the Caribbean island of St Kitts.
Australia's former Minister for the Environment and Heritage Senator the Hon Ian Campbell made a presentation on scientific research in the southern ocean, contrasting lethal research with non-lethal research, and demonstrating that there is no need for lethal whaling.
Japan made presentations on JARPA II and JARPN scientific whaling programmes.

Australia's scientific presentation to the IWC (Powerpoint - 1,796 KB)

Voting patterns at IWC 58
The 58th International Whaling Commission meeting (16-20 June 2006) in St Kitts in the Caribbean saw votes on key issues.
They were:
Vote 1: Japan proposed that the agenda be amended so that there could be no discussion in the IWC with regards to small cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises). The proposal failed, with 30 votes for, 32 votes against, and 1 abstention.
Vote 2: Japan proposed that all votes of the IWC should be taken by secret ballots. The proposal failed with 30 for, 33 against and 1 abstention.
Vote 3: Japan proposed that the IWC allow their small coastal communities to kill minke whales. The proposal failed with 30 for, 31 against and 4 abstentions.
Vote 4: Japan proposed that the Southern Ocean Sanctuary be abolished. The proposal failed with 28 for, 33 against and 4 abstentions.
The IWC adopted a declaration – called the St Kitts and Nevis declaration - proposed by 30 pro-whaling members. The declaration essentially supports the pro-whaling agenda and states that the IWC will collapse unless whaling resumes. It does not propose a course of action and has no effect on the workings of the IWC. The IWC adopted a resolution by general consensus condemning any actions that threaten the safety of life at sea. This resolution was developed in light of the events in the Southern Ocean between Greenpeace protest vessels and Japanese whaling vessels. St Kitts and Nevis reserved their position on this resolution.

Record of voting at IWC58

Countries
Proposal to strike discussion of small cetaceans from the Commission agenda
Proposal to introduce secret ballots
Proposal to amend the Schedule to provide a commercial quota for coastal minke whaling in Japan
Proposal to abolish southern ocean whale sanctuary
Vote on the St Kitts and Nevis Resolution

Antigua and Barbuda
1
1
1
1
1

Argentina
0
0
0
0
0

Australia
0
0
0
0
0

Austria
0
0
0
0
0

Belgium
0
0
0
0
0

Belize
0
0
0
0
0

Benin
1
1
1
1
1

Brazil
0
0
0
0
0

Cameroon
1
1
1
1
1

Cambodia
1
1
1
1
1

Chile
0
0
0
0
0

China
1
1
abstain
1
abstain

Cote d'Ivoire
1
1
1
absent
1

CzechRepublic
0
0
0
0
0

Denmark
abstain
0
1
0
1

Dominica
1
1
1
1
1

Finland
0
0
0
0
0

France
0
0
0
0
0

Gambia (voting rights restored before second vote)
not financial
1
1
1
1

Gabon
1
1
1
1
1

Germany
0
0
0
0
0

Grenada
1
1
1
1
1

Guinea
1
1
1
1
1

Hungary
0
0
0
0
0

Iceland
1
1
1
1
1

India
0
0
0
0
0

Ireland
0
0
0
0
0

Israel
0
0
0
0
0

Italy
0
0
0
0
0

Japan
1
1
1
1
1

Kiribati
1
1
abstain
1
1

Korea
1
1
abstain
abstain
1

Luxembourg
0
0
0
0
0

Mali
1
1
1
1
1

Mauritania
1
1
1
1
1

Mexico
0
0
0
0
0

Marshall Islands
1
1
1
1
1

Monaco
0
0
0
0
0

Mongolia
1
1
1
1
1

Morocco
1
1
1
abstain
1

Nauru
1
1
1
1
1

Netherlands
0
0
0
0
0

New Zealand
0
0
0
0
0

Nicaragua
1
1
1
1
1

Norway
1
1
1
1
1

Oman
0
0
1
0
0

Palau
1
1
1
1
1

Panama
0
0
0
0
0

Portugal
0
0
0
0
0

Russian Federation
1
1
1
1
1

San Marino
0
0
0
0
0

Senegal (arrived day 3)
not present
not present
not present
1
1

Slovak Republic
0
0
0
0
0

Solomon Islands
1
abstain
abstain
1
1

South Africa
0
0
0
0
0

Spain
0
0
0
0
0

St Kitts and Nevis
1
1
1
1
1

St Lucia
1
1
1
1
1

St Vincent and the Grenadines
1
1
1
abstain
1

Suriname
1
1
1
1
1

Sweden
0
0
0
0
0

Switzerland
0
0
0
0
0

Togo (voting rights restored after second vote)
not financial
not financial
1
1
1

Tuvalu
1
1
1
abstain
1

United Kingdom
0
0
0
0
0

United States
0
0
0
0
0

 
 
 
 
 
 

Total Yes
30
30
30
28
33

Total No
32
33
31
33
32

Abstensions
1
1
4
4
1

Motion moved
FALSE
FALSE
FALSE
FALSE
TRUE

Top
About us
Contact us
Databases and maps
Publications
Site index
What's new

Accessibility
Disclaimer
Privacy
© Commonwealth of Australia
australia.gov.au

Last updated: Thursday, 06-Dec-2007 08:26:39 EST

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
Telephone: +61 (0)2 6274 1111
ABN

© Commonwealth of Australia