WHALING: TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BY JAPAN NOT TO KILL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 005536

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR D, G AND OES/OA - MHAYES/JFIELD AND EAP/J
USDOC FOR NOAA/NMFS - US IWC COMMISSIONER HOGARTH AND
MCCARTY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017
TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA IWC JA
SUBJECT: WHALING: TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BY JAPAN NOT TO KILL
HUMPBACKS THIS SEASON

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Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer, Reasons 1.4 (b) (d)


1. (C) Summary: International Whaling Commission (IWC)
Chairman Dr. William Hogarth and IWC Vice Chairman and Japan
Fisheries Agency Deputy Director General Akira Nakamae, came
to a tentative agreement for Japan to delay killing any
humpback whales until after the June 2008 IWC annual meeting.
Because this year,s JARPA II hunt ends in April 2008, the
agreement would effectively eliminate the possibility of
Japan killing humpback whales until late 2008. Nakamae noted
this agreement is tentative, subject to his ability to
convince Diet members and others in the GOJ to accept such a
delay. Nakamae made the point that Japan is willing to
cooperate with Dr. Hogarth as the IWC Chair and expressed
appreciation for his leadership and commitment to finding a
way forward. He promised to fly to Washington December 18 to
meet again with Dr. Hogarth. Dr. Hogarth asked the GOJ to
delay killing humpbacks to allow the facilitation process he
is proposing as Chair of the IWC time to see results. Dr.
Hogarth and Nakamae also outlined their ideas for the March
2008 Intersessional Meeting and June 2008 IWC annual meeting.
End Summary.

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Intersessional Focus on Process; IWC Focus on Deliverables
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2. (C) The IWC Chairman (and U.S. Commissioner to the IWC),
Dr. William Hogarth, met Fisheries Agency of Japan Deputy
Director General Akira Nakamae, who is also IWC
Vice-chairman, to discuss the planned IWC Intersessional
Meeting and way forward for the next IWC annual meeting on
December 11 in Tokyo. Dr. Hogarth opened by saying he will
remain as Chair of the IWC even after he resigns from the USG
at the end of December 2007. He assured Nakamae the USG is
committed to finding a way forward on the whaling issue.


3. (C) Dr. Hogarth went on to say he was pleased with the
recent Steering Committee meeting and with the choice of Dr.
Juma as facilitator of the Intersessional Meeting. The March
Intersessional Meeting will make the participants comfortable
with the process and provide them with case studies on how
such an approach has worked in the past. Dr. Hogarth
proposed the next IWC annual meeting focus on finding a way
forward and forego resolutions, and subcommittee and
committee meetings. It should not have the same agenda as
past IWC annual meetings, but focus on two to three issues
that could be solved within 2008. There was a desire from
the Steering Committee to make something happen.


4. (C) Nakamae agreed a focused agenda was best for the next
IWC annual meeting. He promised as much cooperation as
possible from the GOJ for the Intersessional Meeting. While
he appreciated USG efforts to "normalize" the IWC, the LDP
whaling caucus had advised that Japan must continue to work
with pro-whaling countries as a "failsafe." Nakamae said an
educational approach fostering common understanding is
needed. The main agenda item for pro-whaling nations would
be small-type coastal whaling, while "whale-watching
activists" would want that issue included on the agenda.
However, he was concerned by the "sharpening mood" of the
Latin American countries, particularly concerning the
proposed South Atlantic whale sanctuary. All parties must
bring the various ideas together at the Intersessional
Meeting for a successful outcome.


5. (C) Dr. Hogarth agreed good planning for the
Intersessional Meeting is important to avoid derailing the
process. One possible outcome would be to agree on a small
negotiating team to put together a set of options to be
discussed at the next IWC meeting. If the next IWC can show
results in areas such as "community whaling" and restrictions
on Antarctic whaling, it would show that the process works.
Now is the best time to do this: while the U.S. is Chair and
Japan is Co-chair.

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Tentative Agreement not to Kill Humpbacks This Season
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6. (C) Dr. Hogarth moved to the issue of Japan,s proposal
to take humpback whales in JARPA II this year. He urged

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Japan delay taking any humpbacks until after the June IWC
meeting to give the Chair's process time to work. He fears
that killing humpback whales may cause a significant popular
and political backlash in anti-whaling countries and could
derail any negotiations. Nakamae at first gave the standard
GOJ reply: since JARPA II is legal, Japan has no intention of
stopping. The take of humpbacks is necessary to the research
Japan is doing on whale stocks in the Antarctic and Japan has
"no intention of changing the objectives of JARPA II." He
added the outcome of the Anchorage meeting left Japanese
politicians and others in the Japanese whaling community
disappointed. Also, Japan could not be seen as backing down
to Australia following its strong criticism of this year,s
JARPA II.


7. (C) Nakamae then softened his tone, noting New Zealand,s
recent willingness to discuss "community whaling." He asked
what Japan could do as Vice Chair to support Dr. Hogarth,s
effort to find a way forward. He said personally he would
like to do his best to convince others in the GOJ that Japan
should refrain from taking humpback whales. While he could
not guarantee success in convincing all parties involved, the
time is short. He would have to "streamline" the complex
issues of whaling for them to understand. Nakamae said to
convince others in the GOJ, he would like Dr. Hogarth to
promise two things: 1) to set a deadline for a resolution to
the STCW issue, and 2) a commitment from the USG not to
criticize elements of Japan,s STCW program (e.g., commercial
elements).


8. (C) Dr. Hogarth said that he told the Steering Committee
the deadline for resolution of the STCW issue must be 2009.
However, the IWC must find a way to recognize the importance
of whale watching since the two are not mutually exclusive.
He assured Nakamae the USG would like to see a solution and
if the process moves forward he is certain there would be
agreement within the USG. If Japan agreed to move forward,
the U.S. and Japan as Chair and Co-chair could issue a
statement on timelines, etc. Nakamae replied he would try to
persuade the Japanese side to delay taking humpbacks. He
added that he would present this effort as Japan,s support
as Vice Chair for Dr. Hogarth,s initiative. It should not
be seen, however, as Japan giving in to Australian pressure.
Nakamae said that he would like to come to Washington to see
Dr. Hogarth on December 18, after he had consulted with Diet
members. After that meeting he would prepare a new research
plan that did not included humpback whales.

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Comment
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9. (C) Nakamae,s attitude was much more positive than in
the past. His displeasure with the Australian stance and
concerns over Latin American attitudes were obvious, but he
was buoyed by New Zealand,s willingness to discuss community
whaling and by the talk of a timeline for resolution of STCW.
However, his claimed need to consult Diet members is
probably specious. His willingness to come to Washington so
soon (only one week after this meeting) would indicate he
already knows the Diet members will give a positive response.
In a meeting later that day, MOFA Director General for
International Economic Affairs Yoichi Otabe said he fully
supports Nakamae's position. He most likely wants to take
advantage of the domestic public relations boost of
announcing such an agreement from Washington.


10. (U) This cable was cleared by Dr. Hogarth.
SCHIEFFER