WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society; Whales and Dolphins under Threat as Governments Debate Trade Issues.BANGKOK -- The future survival of the rare Irrawaddy dolphin The Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) is a species of dolphin found near coasts and in estuaries in parts of south-east Asia. Anatomy and Morphology This species has a large melon and a blunt, rounded head. Its beak is indistinct. hangs in the balance as governments converge in Thailand for the 13th meeting of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species endangered species, any plant or animal species whose ability to survive and reproduce has been jeopardized by human activities. In 1999 the U.S. government, in accordance with the U.S. of Wild Fauna and Flora, next week. At the meeting in Bangkok, representatives of over one hundred countries will consider a wide variety of proposals to decrease or increase the protection status of many of the world's most endangered species. WDCS WDCS Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society WDCS Wideband Digital Cross-Connect System WDCS Wideband Digital Crossconnect System WDCS Wavelet Domain Communication System WDCS Windows Data Center Server WDCS Wireless Distributed Communication System , the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) is a wildlife charity and environmental organization that dedicates itself to "conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins and porpoises. will be fighting for protection from commercial trade for the Irrawaddy dolphin and against a proposal by Japan to lift the ban on commercial trade in whale products. The Irrawaddy dolphin lives in small isolated populations in Asia and Northern Australia. It is already so seriously threatened by entanglement in fishing nets and habitat destruction that several populations are critically endangered. The removal of just a few individuals could mean extinction for these populations, but they continue to be captured for sale to aquariums. The UK supports a proposal by Thailand to ban international trade in this species. Elliot Morley, UK Minister for Environment said: 'Thailand's proposal to add the Irrawaddy dolphin to Appendix I will help the status of some populations that are genuinely threatened and halt the growing demand for specimens in dolphinariums This is a list of known dolphinariums worldwide. Many of these places are more than just a dolphinarium, but are themeparks, marine mammal parks, zoos or aquariums that also have one or more dolphinariums. ." Sue Fisher, WDCS Campaigner said "Protecting these dolphins from trade is vital. Without this protection, whole populations could be eradicated by a single capture." For the forth consecutive CITES meeting, Japan has submitted a proposal to lift the ban on commercial trade in whale products, this time from Northern Hemisphere minke whales. Japan, Norway and Iceland all hunt whales in defiance of a ban on commercial whaling imposed by the International Whaling Commission International Whaling Commission (IWC) An intergovernmental organization created in 1946 to control the rapid escalation of whaling. The original purpose of the IWC was to preserve whale stocks for commercial whalers. (IWC IWC International Whaling Commission IWC Industrial Welfare Commission IWC Iowa Wesleyan College IWC International Watch Company (Swiss watch manufacturer) IWC Ice Water Content IWC In Which Case IWC Indianapolis Water Company ) in 1986. Mr Morely continued "We would also like to voice our concern at Japan's proposal to downlist the Northern Hemisphere stocks of the Minke Whale. This move is, we feel, premature in the absence of a decision by the IWC on a revised management scheme." WDCS's Sue Fisher said "Japan's proposal is both scientifically and legally flawed. If adopted, it would inevitably lead to a resumption of commercial whaling to supply the trade." |
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