Sorrento

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) warned on Tuesday over the effects of an oil and gas project on the ”critically endangered” western grey whale. The IWC adopted a resolution that ”strongly recommends” that subsidiaries of Exxon, Royal Dutch Shell and BP halt seismic exploration activity.

Pro-whaling Japan narrowly failed on Monday in a bold attempt to ensure that voting at the International Whaling Commission is carried out in secret. Japan said secret balloting would allow small nations to vote without fear of economic or political pressure from foreign governments or anti-whaling organisations.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=118949">Dark clouds on anti-whaling horizon</a>

Pro- and anti-whaling nations began a four-day meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Sorrento, Italy, on Monday amid growing support for an end to an 18-year moratorium on commercial whaling. Japan has welcomed growing support for its call for a return to commercial whaling.