WHALING: GOJ NONCOMMITAL ON ENCOURAGING ICELAND TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000171 NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/J AND OES/OA - LPHELPS STATE PASS CEQ USDOC FOR NOAA/NMFS - RWULFF BRIDGETOWN FOR ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2020 TAGS: EFIS KSCA PREL SENV IWC JA SUBJECT: WHALING: GOJ NONCOMMITAL ON ENCOURAGING ICELAND TO LOWER QUOTA Classified By: EMIN Marc Wall, reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C/NF) Summary: EMIN urged MOFA State Secretary Fukuyama and Fisheries Agency Deputy Director General Yamashita to press Iceland to lower its proposed quota for whaling in order to facilitate an overall agreement on whaling. Both Fukuyama and Yamashita said the GOJ is reluctant to take such action. Fukuyama cited a lack of desire to raise the profile of whaling to the political level, while Yamashita said Japan could not use trade measures to stop the importation of whale meat from Finland. EMIN made the case that the parties are close to an agreement and Japan should advise Iceland to come to the table with a reasonable offer. Yamashita the Sea Shepherd's harassment of the Japanese whaling fleet could limit domestic support for a compromise. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) EMIN met MOFA State Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama January 25 and Fisheries Agency of Japan Deputy Director General Jun Yamashita January 26 to press the case for Japan's help in reaching out to Iceland for cooperation in the current round of negotiations in the International Whaling Commission (IWC). In his meeting with Fukuyama, EMIN thanked Fukuyama for Japan's constructive engagement in the talks and asked for Japan's help to encourage Iceland to reduce its proposed quota for whaling in the North Atlantic. Fukuyama said he understands that Iceland has taken a tough stance in the negotiations, but implied that his options are limited. ¶3. (C/NF) Fukuyama said the whaling issue has not been a political issue in Japan, a situation he would like to avoid. If the GOJ moves forward on the issue too quickly, he added, it will create a domestic political problem for the ruling Democratic Party of Japan. He sees the situation as a Catch 22: it may not be possible to resolve the whaling issue without taking it to a political level, but doing so could create an adverse reaction for the DPJ. ¶4. (SBU) EMIN replied that Iceland's proposed take of fin whales is predicated on exporting to Japan, and its catch quota is far in excess of what the Japanese market could absorb. If Japan and the U.S. work to encourage both sides in the whaling debate to take reasonable approaches there will be an opportunity for a breakthrough. Fukuyama said that while his sense is that it will be difficult for Japan to approach Iceland, he will examine Iceland's position and the market for imported whale meat. ¶5. (SBU) In his meeting with Fisheries Agency Deputy Director General Yamashita, EMIN again made the case for a GOJ intervention with Iceland. Yamashita argued that trade measures against Iceland are not appropriate since trade in whale meat between the two countries is not prohibited under either CITES or IWC rules. (Note: EMIN did not recommend Japan take any measures to restrict trade. End note) EMIN countered that the issue at hand is concluding an agreement. A message from Japan to Iceland that its proposed catch far exceeds what the Japanese market can absorb could bring them around. Yamashita said the U.S. and Japan need to come up with other measures beside trade to influence Iceland, but that he has no ideas at the moment. Yamashita was glad to hear of U.S. "support" for Japan's proposal to reduce its catch. EMIN said rather Japan's offer is something we can work with, and we would like to see the same out of Iceland. ¶6. (C/NF) Turning to harassment of the Japanese whaling fleet by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS), Yamashita said the NGO's actions have kept the fleet from reaching its quota the last few years. Yamashita said the GOJ would come under pressure domestically if SSCS harassment TOKYO 00000171 002 OF 002 continues to keep Japanese whalers from filling their quota after an agreement on reduced numbers is reached within the IWC. EMIN said the USG is concerned about the safety of life at sea and is looking at the activity of the SSCS. ROOS EPET @ EL PAÍS