NICARAGUA FEELING HEAT FOR PRO-WHALING POSITION

UNCLAS MANAGUA 000045

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV IWC EFIS NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUA FEELING HEAT FOR PRO-WHALING POSITION



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Nicaragua's largest daily newspapers have
recently published articles critical of the country's
pro-whaling votes in the International Whaling Commission
(IWC). The Executive Director of the National Fisheries
Agency (ADPESCA) told ECONOFF that he has consequently become
the target of increasing criticism by environmental groups.
Despite having no whaling tradition, Nicaragua consistently
votes in the IWC for the interests of Japan and other whaling
nations. Discussing his government's support for whale
hunting in the IWC, ADPESCA Executive Director Miguel Marenco
combined familiar pro-whaling talking points with a blunt
admission that Nicaragua was participating in a quid pro quo
bargain with the Japanese. Japan is the third most generous
bilateral donor to Nicaragua behind the U.S. and Sweden
(another nation with strong whaling interests). Nicaragua
has received an average of $40 million annually in financial
assistance from Japan since 1990, including recent funding to
build docks for fishing vessels. There is no reason to
believe that recent public criticism will result in a change
in the GON position. END SUMMARY


2. (SBU) The front page of the daily newspaper 'El Nuevo
Diario' on January 9 contained a photo of a Japanese vessel
reeling in a bloody, harpooned whale under the headline,
"Cruelty and Danger of Extinction." The article states that
"the government of Nicaragua supports the hunting of whales
on behalf of Japan and other industrialized nations, although
this animal is in danger of extinction." Nicaragua's other
leading newspaper 'La Prensa' has also recently featured
opposition to Nicaragua's pro-whaling stance. Marenco
declared that these articles and a host of critical websites
are part of a campaign orchestrated by Greenpeace and other
international environmental organizations to pressure
Nicaragua to change its positions on the IWC. He also
believes that left-wing organizations in Latin America are
using environmentalism as a proxy issue to attack centrist
and conservative governments.


3. (SBU) In defense of Nicaragua's position, Marenco repeated
familiar pro-whale hunting talking points. He said that his
country is "pro sustainable use" and would oppose the hunting
of any endangered whale species based on "scientific
evidence." He stated the GON view that species such as minke
whales have been replenished, and therefor can be safely
hunted. He further echoed the notion that the "replenishment
of large predators harms the replenishment of endangered fish
species since they are eaten by the whales."


4. (SBU) Marenco was candid about Nicaragua's quid pro quo
understanding with Japan on the whaling issue. "Remember
that Japan is a good ally of Nicaragua and that they provide
almost $50 million a year in assistance," he said. Marenco
bluntly remarked that Nicaragua has taken a "You scratch my
back and I'll scratch yours" approach to whaling with the
Japanese. (Comment: Part of the 2005-2006 aid package from
Japan includes the construction of two docks for fishing
boats in San Juan del Sur. End Comment)


5. (SBU) Marenco emphasized that the U.S. should not consider
this one area of disagreement to be a cause for concern about
overall relations between our two countries concerning
fisheries issues. He pointed out that the GON is a close
partner with the United States on issues related to tuna,
shrimp, turtles and lobster. (Note: With the exception of
the IWC, Nicaragua frequently supports U.S. proposals and
candidates for positions in organizations such as the
International Tuna Commission. End Note)


6. (SBU) COMMENT: While clearly annoyed with the public
campaign to criticize the GON whaling position and him
personally, Marenco gave no reason to believe that the GON
will alter its strategic decision to align itself with
Japanese interests on the International Whaling Commission.
TRIVELLI