'Not all good news' amid whale conservation anniversary

Forty years after an international ban on commercial whaling, a gathering of 63 member nations convened in Hobart to address new threats to whale populations. While some species have recovered since a 1986 commercial whaling moratorium, whales continue to face dangers like bycatch, entanglement, ship strikes, ocean noise, climate change, and habitat loss. Environment Minister Murray Watt cautioned that "whales still face many other, compounding threats" during the International Whaling Commission's 70th meeting.

A key agenda item is the proposal for a whale sanctuary in the southern Atlantic Ocean, initially suggested by Brazil in 1998. This extension of the existing Southern Ocean protected area aims to safeguard whales from West Africa to South America. However, pro-whaling nations have opposed the plan, with some even boycotting previous meetings. The commission will vote on amendments to voting rules on Monday to limit the influence of nations like Norway, which opposes the sanctuary.

Norway's head delegate, Petter Meier, criticized the commission's focus on conservation instead of sustainable use during the opening session. He argued that marine mammals should be treated as an essential food source. Norway, along with Japan and Iceland, remains the only whaling nations among the 63 members. Australia was once a whaling nation but ceased the practice in 1978.

Meanwhile, humpback whale populations are thriving, with about 50,000 whales currently traversing 70 kilometers south of Hobart. In the 1960s, the eastern Australian humpback population was as low as 150 individuals. Commission Chair Dr. Nick Gales hailed this resurgence as "an extraordinary thing to celebrate."

Another contentious issue is Antarctic krill fishing, which protesters from organizations like the Bob Brown Foundation have been campaigning against. The meetings will continue until Friday, with a focus on addressing these multifaceted challenges facing whales.