    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [February 9, 1996]
    [Pages 205-206]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress on Japanese Whaling Activities
    February 9, 1996

    To the Congress of the United States:
        On December 11, 1995, Secretary of Commerce Ronald Brown certified
    under section 8 of the Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967, as amended
    (the ``Pelly Amendment'') (22 U.S.C. 1978), that Japan has conducted
    research whaling activities that diminish the effectiveness of the
    International Whaling Commission (IWC) conservation program. This
    message constitutes my report to the Congress pursuant to subsection (b)
    of the Pelly Amendment.
        The certification of the Secretary of Commerce was based on Japanese
    research whaling activities in both the North Pacific and the Southern
    Ocean Whale Sanctuary. In 1994, Japan expanded its research whaling
    activities into the North Pacific by permitting the taking of 100 minke
    whales, 21 of which were taken. The IWC found that this North Pacific
    whaling failed to satisfy applicable criteria for lethal research and
    was therefore inconsistent with the IWC's conservation program.
    Nevertheless, Japan continued its whaling activities in the North
    Pacific, taking 100 minke whales in 1995. In addition, during 1995,
    Japan increased the number of minke whales to be harvested in the
    Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary by 33 percent, despite a 1994 finding by
    the IWC that this lethal research program did not meet all applicable
    criteria.
        In his letter to me of December 11, 1995, Secretary Brown conveyed
    his concerns not only over the whales that have been killed in this
    program to date but also over any further expansion of lethal research.
    While noting that the Japanese have informed us they have no plans for a
    further expansion of lethal research in the Southern Ocean Whale
    Sanctuary, he expressed particular concern over whaling activity in that
    area. I share these concerns.
        At this stage, I do not believe that the use of trade sanctions is
    the most constructive approach to resolving our differences over
    research whaling activities with the Government of Japan. However, I
    have instructed the Department of State to convey my very strong
    concerns to the Government of Japan. We will also vigorously pursue
    high-level efforts to persuade Japan to reduce the number of whales
    killed in its research program and act consistently with the IWC
    conservation program. We hope to achieve significant progress on these
    issues by the beginning of the next Antarctic whaling season and will
    keep these issues under review. I have in-

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    structed the Department of Commerce to continue to monitor closely
    Japan's research whaling and to report promptly on any further
    inconsistencies between Japanese whaling activities and the guidelines
    of the IWC conservation program.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    February 9, 1996.