Whaling talks set to resume in Morocco

BRENDAN TREMBATH: The official international whaling talks are about to resume in Morocco with all nations reporting back on whether they’ve found common ground.

Japan and Australia are at odds over a compromise that could see commercial whaling resume. Some in the anti-whaling camp say such a deal is a step forward. But it’s clear that some countries are struggling to support a deal that would overturn a 24-year ban on a commercial hunt.

I spoke to environment reporter Sarah Clarke a short time ago and I asked her why today was crucial at these talks.

SARAH CLARKE: Well Brendan we’ve had two days where we’ve had closed negotiations. On the first day on the opening, the deputy chair basically sent all the nations off to have private talks. There have been 10 working groups. Australia’s been involved in that. And those working groups were told to come up with some common ground and report back to the chair on Wednesday, which is today our time, which the meeting kicks off in an hour-and-a-half.

So everyone’s waiting to see whether or not they did find common ground and whether or not an agreement can be reached by Friday.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: So is it possible to know where the talks are at?

SARAH CLARKE: Well the hint and suggestions that we were hearing last night is that from the pro and from the Japanese delegation there’s suggestions that it’s the anti-whaling nations that are still not giving ground.

For the first time in years we do actually have the anti-whaling countries talking to Japan, there’ve been open negotiations. When I say there’s been open negotiations they’ve been talking, they’ve been flexible and they’re both saying that they will offer some concessions.

But last night Japan was suggesting that there’s still a lot of division within the anti-whaling nations, a lot of philosophical divisions on the concept of coming to an agreement and that agreement being the fact that it’s a compromise that would allow for some limited commercial whaling by Japan if they reduce the number of whales they kill in the Southern Ocean.

And a lot of anti-whaling nations, including Australia, have a lot of problems with that.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: So Sarah Clarke, who’s really gaining ground here of the nations?

SARAH CLARKE: Well, Japan would say that they’re gaining ground in the sense that they’re actually having discussions for the first time in years. New Zealand’s saying they want something because this is a missed opportunity if we don’t get an agreement or deal of some sort by Friday.

Even Greenpeace, and the Pew Environment Group, are saying that we need something to happen by Friday because every year these talks end in deadlock and every year the organisation is considered dysfunctional and riddled with problems and this year basically everyone wants something to come out of Friday but it may be Australia turning to Japan for them to harpoon this agreement and blow it out of the water and hope nothing happens or no deal happens that could see whaling resume.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: So it sounds pretty unlikely that there could be a deal by Friday.

SARAH CLARKE: I think we’re taking each day as it comes, but I mean it depends on who is willing to give that ground and who is willing to make those key concessions. Basically it needs a three-quarters majority vote and that three-quarters majority vote there are 88 nations who are involved here, it’s a big vote so we’ll have to wait and see what happens on Friday.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: Now, what about the position of the host nation Morocco. What position is it taking?

SARAH CLARKE: Morocco is a conservation nation so it’s basically considered in the anti-whaling camp. Where its position is fleshed out and how it feels on actually pushing for a compromise that could see limited whaling, and when I say limited whaling it’s limited whaling off Japan’s coast and that would allow for Japan to cut its quota in the Southern Ocean, we’re yet to see where they’ll vote in that camp.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: Sarah Clarke thanks very much.

SARAH CLARKE: Thanks Brendan.

BRENDAN TREMBATH: Sarah Clarke in Morocco.