[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 714 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 714

Expressing support to end commercial whaling in all of its forms and to 
           strengthen measures to conserve whale populations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 28, 2012

   Mr. Berman (for himself and Mr. Keating) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and 
 in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support to end commercial whaling in all of its forms and to 
           strengthen measures to conserve whale populations.

Whereas 89 countries have adopted the International Convention for the 
        Regulation of Whaling (Convention), signed in Washington, DC, on 
        December 2, 1946, which established the International Whaling Commission 
        (Commission) to provide for the conservation of whale populations;
Whereas the Commission adopted a moratorium on commercial whaling that went into 
        effect in 1986 to conserve and promote the recovery of whale 
        populations, many of which had been hunted to near extinction by the 
        whaling industry;
Whereas the United States was instrumental in the adoption of the moratorium and 
        led the international effort to address the threat posed by commercial 
        whaling for more than three decades;
Whereas three countries, though Parties to the Convention, have killed over 
        30,000 whales since the moratorium entered into force;
Whereas the moratorium on commercial whaling includes a scientific research 
        exemption that has been exploited to allow whaling on a commercial 
        scale;
Whereas cetacean scientists around the world have consistently concluded that 
        whaling conducted for scientific research purposes is unnecessary as 
        non-lethal research alternatives exist;
Whereas commercial whaling in any form, including special permit whaling and any 
        coastal or community-based whaling, undermines the conservation mandate 
        of the Convention;
Whereas all coastal whaling is commercial, unless conducted under the aboriginal 
        subsistence exemption to the moratorium on commercial whaling;
Whereas the Conservation Committee of the Commission, which was established in 
        2003, has focused on threats to the world's whales, such as ship 
        collisions, incidental capture and entanglement, and the effects of 
        sounds caused by humans;
Whereas whales migrate throughout the world's oceans, international cooperation 
        is required to successfully conserve and protect them; and
Whereas the United States should continue to be a global leader in whale 
        conservation and protection and promote international efforts to 
        conserve and protect the world's whales: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) strongly opposes commercial whaling and supports use of 
        all appropriate measures to end commercial whaling in any form, 
        including for purposes of scientific research;
            (2) seeks to strengthen conservation and management 
        measures to facilitate the conservation of whale species and 
        populations, including support for the establishment of the 
        South Atlantic Ocean whale sanctuary;
            (3) urges the President and the international community to 
        modernize the International Whaling Commission, consistent with 
        other international conservation organizations, by expanding 
        the participation of civil society, improving transparency, and 
        supporting efforts to improve its effectiveness; and
            (4) supports ongoing research efforts to understand, 
        prevent, or mitigate threats to whales and their habitat, such 
        as ocean noise, marine debris, ship strikes, entanglements, 
        contaminants, and disease.
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