MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

South Atlantic whale sanctuary rejected.

The Argentine-Brazilian proposal, with South African support, for a South Atlantic Whale sanctuary failed in its attempt to collect sufficient votes during the recent International Whale Commission meeting held in Berlin, Germany.

In its fourth year running presentation the proposal managed 24 votes, with 19 against and 3 abstentions, while a similar initiative sponsored by New Zealand and Australia for the South Pacific obtained 24 positive votes, 19 negative and 4 abstentions.

"Sanctuaries are essential since they are areas that can be used for whale research, management and conservation", underlined Vanessa Tossenberger from the Cethus Foundation and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.

"In spite of having a majority of votes, we still don't have the three fourths needed. Next year in Sorrento during the 56th edition of IWC we will be presenting both initiatives again", anticipated Marta Hevia from Cethus Foundation.

Japan, Norway and Iceland who still are involved in whale killing lead the group opposing sanctuaries.

Japan and Norway argued that a South Atlantic sanctuary was "inadmissible" and contrary to the principles and objectives of the IWC.

Iceland said there was no scientific evidence to support the need for a South Atlantic sanctuary adding that so far no one has explained "why this is necessary to optimize the whale population".

Greenpeace claims that several IWC country members succumbed to strong Japanese financial support.

Whale sanctuaries already exist in the Indian Ocean and Antarctica.