IV 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 714 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 28, 2012 Mr. Berman (for himself and Mr. Keating) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned RESOLUTION Expressing support to end commercial whaling in all of its forms and to strengthen measures to conserve whale populations.

Whereas 89 countries have adopted the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (Convention), signed in Washington, DC, on December 2, 1946, which established the International Whaling Commission (Commission) to provide for the conservation of whale populations; Whereas the Commission adopted a moratorium on commercial whaling that went into effect in 1986 to conserve and promote the recovery of whale populations, many of which had been hunted to near extinction by the whaling industry; Whereas the United States was instrumental in the adoption of the moratorium and led the international effort to address the threat posed by commercial whaling for more than three decades; Whereas three countries, though Parties to the Convention, have killed over 30,000 whales since the moratorium entered into force; Whereas the moratorium on commercial whaling includes a scientific research exemption that has been exploited to allow whaling on a commercial scale; Whereas cetacean scientists around the world have consistently concluded that whaling conducted for scientific research purposes is unnecessary as non-lethal research alternatives exist; Whereas commercial whaling in any form, including special permit whaling and any coastal or community-based whaling, undermines the conservation mandate of the Convention; Whereas all coastal whaling is commercial, unless conducted under the aboriginal subsistence exemption to the moratorium on commercial whaling; Whereas the Conservation Committee of the Commission, which was established in 2003, has focused on threats to the world’s whales, such as ship collisions, incidental capture and entanglement, and the effects of sounds caused by humans; Whereas whales migrate throughout the world’s oceans, international cooperation is required to successfully conserve and protect them; and Whereas the United States should continue to be a global leader in whale conservation and protection and promote international efforts to conserve and protect the world’s whales: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)strongly opposes commercial whaling and supports use of all appropriate measures to end commercial whaling in any form, including for purposes of scientific research; (2)seeks to strengthen conservation and management measures to facilitate the conservation of whale species and populations, including support for the establishment of the South Atlantic Ocean whale sanctuary; (3)urges the President and the international community to modernize the International Whaling Commission, consistent with other international conservation organizations, by expanding the participation of civil society, improving transparency, and supporting efforts to improve its effectiveness; and (4)supports ongoing research efforts to understand, prevent, or mitigate threats to whales and their habitat, such as ocean noise, marine debris, ship strikes, entanglements, contaminants, and disease.