WHALING

That this House recognises the important role played by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in protecting whales and in marine conservation; further recognises the importance of continuing with that protection and maintaining the international moratorium on commercial whaling; urges members of the IWC to resist the sustained efforts of pro-whaling countries to undermine the international moratorium; fears that continuing to hold the IWC's Small Working Group meetings behind closed doors could lead to a compromise decision which would undermine the moratorium and legitimise some form of commercial whaling; calls upon the Government to campaign for the negotiations and discussions within the IWC to be fully transparent; and further calls on Government departments to work together and pro-actively lobby more countries to join the IWC to support the international moratorium.