Local environmental groups call for withdrawal of resolution from Antigua and Barbuda at IWC meeting

Sis local  environmental  groups   listed have joined  forces and  sent a letter to The Honourable Prime Minister Gaston Browne  and  copied  the  Honorable  Minister of  Tourism Charles Max Fernandz requesting that Antigua and Barbuda withdraws this Resolution at once presented to the IWC  and reverse the pro-whaling  position of the country within the IWC going forward.

In addition  to the environmental concerns this will have, there is grave concern over the damage to  tourism if  eco-minded tourists do not wish to  travel  to a destination that supports  whaling.

A   7th  group — ADOPT ACOASTLINE INC — has  joined  the other six groups in calling for action on this matter.

The groups await a response from the  Prime Minister  Gaston Brown and are hopeful  this action will not result in damage to the Twin Island  state.

In a statement from ABITP PRO Martha Watkins Gilkes commented: “The environmental crises has deepened with alarming issues  like global warming,  ocean pollution,  unrelenting heat,  coral reefs dying,  depletion of  fish stocks,   species loss;  environmental issues go on and on.

“It  is irresponsible to take any action  that adds to  this crisis and  removal of whales from the marine environment does so.   Whales are  essential for the health and productivity of the  marine ecosystems, playing a vital role in nutrient cycling and supporting a rich diversity of marine life.

“Their feeding habits stimulate phytoplankton growth, the foundation of the marine food web, ensuring health and productivity in marine ecosystems.  The marine environment is in such crisis with so many issues  that any additional stress should be avoided.  It  is  the responsibility for all nations and populations to play their part in this”

The Honourable Prime Minister Gaston Browne

Office of the Prime Minister

Factory Road

Queen Elizabeth Highway

St. John’s

Antigua and Barbuda

Dear Honourable Prime Minister Gaston Browne, 

We the undersigned are dedicated Antiguan & Barbuda based environmental groups fighting to protect the fragile environment of our twin island state. We are writing to you to express our deep concern regarding Antigua and Barbuda’s plan to propose the ‘Resolution for the Implementation of a Conservation and Management Program for Whale Stocks Aimed Towards the Lifting of the Moratorium and Orderly Development of the Whaling Industry’ at the 2024 International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) meeting in Lima, Peru this week. We join the 25 international NGOs who have reached out to you urgently on this matter.  

As you are aware Antigua recently hosted international leaders from around the world at the UN 2024 SIDS4 (Small Island Developing States) Conference in May. In the magazine which was distributed to all participants, the government of Antigua and Barbuda highlighted the numerous ways we as an island-nation are “creating a sustainable future for all” and we emphasized our “commitment to preserving marine diversity and fragile ecosystems”. This Resolution directly contradicts the above statements, as well as our own legislation in the Environmental Protection Act 2019 which states that all whales, dolphins and porpoises are protected species and prohibits hunting them.  

Antigua and Barbuda’s pro-whaling position will not only be detrimental to the health of our struggling whale populations, but it could also negatively impact Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism sector and international investment, as we continue to promote our country as an “eco-conscious” destination. We are very concerned with the power the 25 NGOS (with membership worldwide of over 10 million) has to damage our tourism, especially via social media, should they go this course.  

We respectfully request that Antigua and Barbuda withdraws this Resolution at once and reverse our pro-whaling position within the IWC going forward.

Respectfully,

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA INDEPENDENT TOURISM PROMOTION CORP. (ABITPC) Martha Watkins Gilkes.
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA OCEAN TRUST – Julie Esty.
ELKHORN MARINE CONSERVANCY  (EMC) – Arthur Gosnell.
AB SEA TURTLES – Ashton Williams.
BODHICHARYA ENVIRONMENT – Dina Goodenough.
ANTIGUA CONSERVATION SOCIETY – Eli Fuller

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua! We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.Contact us at [email protected]