THAMES WHALE ANNIVERSARY AND INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION

That this House remembers the anniversary of the Thames whale; recognises the unprecedented public interest and concern for the plight of this and other whales generated by her visit; regrets that the global outlook for whales has significantly worsened with Japan securing a simple majority at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and Iceland resuming commercial whaling; expresses serious concern at the continued increase in whaling activities by Japan, Norway and Iceland; opposes the diplomatic efforts of Japan to overturn the international moratorium on whaling; welcomes the strong anti-whaling stance of successive UK Governments; and calls on the Government to engage in increased diplomatic action at the highest level in advance of the IWC meeting in May 2007 in order to bring an end to commercial and scientific whaling.