And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: From: Piercing Eyes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> forwarded for informational purposes only...contents have not been verified... From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 03:42:20 EDT Subject: Whalers Make Case for Whaling Whalers Make Case for Whaling .c The Associated Press By CHRIS HAWLEY ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada (AP) -- The cartoon says it all: a whale in a tuxedo sits at a dinner table, its plate piled high with fish and more spilling out of its mouth. Across the table, a man surveys his own meal -- two measly minnows. Pro-whaling countries' latest argument for resuming commercial whaling is that rebounding whale populations are snapping up the world's dwindling supply of fish. In scientific papers, news releases and full-color handouts, they are warning that whales could contribute to a worldwide fish shortage. ``Who ate all the fish?'' demands a pamphlet from the Florida-based World Conservation Trust distributed at this week's annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Grenada. Japan this week released a study claiming that growing populations of whales and related animals eat between 280 million and 500 million tons of food a year, three to six times what the world's fishing fleets catch. The findings come while the United Nations is warning that fish stocks are shrinking and is asking countries to curb their fishing operations. Australia countered with a report claiming Japanese figures were exaggerated and that only 35 percent of the fish, plankton, squid and krill eaten by whales also are sought by fishermen. Fueling the debate, the United States on Wednesday presented a report saying global warming could affect populations of krill and other foods eaten by whales. It cited a 1997 study by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tracking marine life off the Antarctic peninsula, an important feeding ground. U.S. scientists also said more ultraviolet light coming through a 25-million-square-mile hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica may hurt reproduction of plankton and small fish, important links in the region's food chain. Japan's claims are a key part of its efforts to block the creation of new whale sanctuaries like those in the Antarctic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Japan also is opposed to Brazilian and New Zealand proposals that would create sanctuaries covering the entire Southern Hemisphere. Ireland has proposed a global sanctuary with limited whaling along coastlines. Italy is pushing for a whale sanctuary in the Ligurian Seas and expansion of sanctuaries elsewhere. However, it opposes the idea of coastal whaling proposed by Ireland. ``We are strongly opposed to any commercial whaling at this point,'' said Giuseppe Notarbartolo of Italy. Japan claims whales in sanctuaries could devastate fish populations in important Japanese fishing grounds in the South Pacific. ``For this reason, the total protection of whales for emotional reasons is inappropriate and the anti-whaling advocacy of conservation groups misdirected and irresponsible,'' the Japan Whaling Association said. AP-NY-05-27-99 0342EDT Copyright 1998 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press. Reprinted under the fair use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
