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Whaling
The worlds' whale populations have been systematically targetted and more than 1 million whales were slaughtered last century - plunging many populations and entire species to the brink of extinction.
Despite decades of protection, they remain a tiny fraction of their former numbers. Every year an increasing number of whales are slaughtered and in 2007 alone, Iceland, Norway and Japan killed over 2,000 whales between them.
Whales emerged the big losers at this year’s week long International Whaling Commission meeting, with anti-whaling nations being unable to halt No.1 hunter Japan. Japan went home without any votes or resolutions against it and Iceland continues its commercial whaling - nothing was achieved for the whales. Over the coming months officials from IWC member governments will embark on a series of discussions leading to the next full meeting in Portugal in 2009. Issues to be discussed include demands for permits for coastal whaling and dangers posed to whales by fishing nets, speed boats, pollution and military sonar.
Further reading
Defra publication - “Protecting Whales - A global responsibility"
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