WHALES - BELIZE VIEWS ON IWC MEETING

UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000304 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES/OA (FIELD),WHA/CEN (MACK) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA PREL IWC ETRD BH SUBJECT: WHALES - BELIZE VIEWS ON IWC MEETING REF: State 056397 ¶1. On April 30 poloff spoke with Beverly Wade, Belize's IWC representative and administrator of the Belize Fisheries Department, to deliver reftel demarche. Responses below are keyed to reftel. ¶2. Key issues at IWC meeting. Wade believes that commercial whaling remains a key issue for the IWC. She also noted her frustration that the IWC is currently "at a standstill" and said that members must find a way to move forward at the upcoming meeting. ¶3. BCB bowhead whales. Wade told poloff that Belize will likely support the U.S.-Russia amendment to the IWC Schedule of Regulations regarding the bowhead whale quota provided that the IWC's scientific committee has reviewed and approved it. She then reiterated her concern about commercial whaling and JapanQs proposal for small-type coastal whaling (SCTW). Wade said that Belize would not support the proposal "as it stands." ¶4. Revised Management Scheme (RMS). Wade believes that the RMS is a polarizing issue, but says Belize will support Dr. Hogarth's efforts to move the organization forward. When asked for suggestions of how to proceed, Wade mentioned that when Hogarth visited Belize several weeks ago he raised the idea of outside arbitration. Belize supports this idea. ¶5. Conservation Committee. Belize agrees that the Conservation Committee is an important part of the IWC and that the committee is not the appropriate venue in which to raise sustainable use and management issues. ¶6. Wade concluded her conversation with poloff by stating that Belize supports Hogarth and his efforts as IWC Chair. She said that she and an as yet unnamed representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plan to attend the IWC meeting in May. DIETER