CONSERVATION

CONSERVATION

A Win for Whales - The Establishment of a Whale Sanctuary in PNG

The Ocean Alliance is pleased to report that the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea the Rt Hon Sir Mekere Morauta has designated the Exclusive Economic Zone of Papua New Guinea as a Marine Mammal Sanctuary. In making this announcement, Prime Minister Morauta said: "My Government certainly appreciates the valuable research work being undertaken by the National Museum, together with various international...conservation organizations, such as Ocean Alliance."

The first ever Marine Mammal Forum took place in PNG in July 2001. It was hosted by the Ocean Alliance, PNG National Museum and Art Gallery and the US Embassy in Papua New Guinea.

The R.V. Odyssey began researching in Papua New Guinea in February of 2001. We spent six months surveying the surrounding waters, during which time we had more than 350 visual and acoustic sperm whale detections, together with 84 sightings of 15 other species of marine mammals. Working with the PNG National Museum, the World Wildlife Fund and the U.S. Embassy, Ocean Alliance ran the first ever Marine Mammal Forum in Papua New Guinea. During the first two-day meeting, the groundwork was laid by the Papua New Guinean participants to establish their own marine sanctuary. Far from joining with Japan to approve her outrageous position in the International Whaling Commission (IWC), which is pushing to resume the commercial hunt for whales, Papua New Guinea has decided to announce the creation of a whale sanctuary extending throughout her Exclusive Economic Zone Ð basically her 200 mile limit, this is a huge area.