    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [February 10, 1997]
    [Pages 143-144]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress on Canadian Whaling Activities
    February 10, 1997

    To the Congress of the United States:
        On December 12, 1996, Secretary of Commerce Michael Kantor certified
    under section 8 of the Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967, as amended
    (the ``Pelly Amendment'') (22 U.S.C. 1978), that Canada has conducted
    whaling activities that diminish the effectiveness of a conservation
    program of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The certification
    was based on the issuance of whaling licenses by the Government of
    Canada in 1996 and the subsequent killing of two bowhead whales under
    those licenses. This message constitutes my report to the Congress
    pursuant to subsection (b) of the Pelly Amendment.
        In 1991, Canadian natives took a bowhead whale from the western
    Arctic stock, under a Canadian permit. In 1994, Canadian natives took
    another bowhead whale from one of the eastern Arctic stocks, without a
    permit.

    [[Page 144]]

        In 1996, under Canadian permits, one bowhead whale was taken in the
    western Canadian Arctic on July 24 and one bowhead whale was taken in
    the eastern Canadian Arctic on August 17. The whale in the eastern
    Arctic was taken from a highly endangered stock. The IWC has expressed
    particular concern about whaling on this stock, which is not known to be
    recovering.
        None of the Canadian whale hunts described above was authorized by
    the IWC. Canada withdrew from the IWC in 1982. In those instances where
    Canada issued whaling licenses, it did so without consulting the IWC. In
    fact, Canada's 1996 actions were directly contrary to IWC advice. At the
    1996 Annual Meeting, the IWC passed a resolution encouraging Canada to
    refrain from issuing whaling licenses and to rejoin the IWC. However,
    Canada has recently advised the United States that it has no plans to
    rejoin the IWC and that it intends to continue granting licenses for the
    taking of endangered bowhead whales.
        Canada's unilateral decision to authorize whaling outside of the IWC
    is unacceptable. Canada's conduct jeopardizes the international effort
    that has allowed whale stocks to begin to recover from the devastating
    effects of historic whaling.
        I understand the importance of maintaining traditional native
    cultures, and I support aboriginal whaling that is managed through the
    IWC. The Canadian hunt, however, is problematic for two reasons.
        First, the whaling took place outside the IWC. International law, as
    reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,
    obligates countries to work through the appropriate international
    organization for the conservation and management of whales. Second,
    whaling in the eastern Canadian Arctic poses a particular conservation
    risk, and the decision to take this risk should not have been made
    unilaterally.
        I believe that Canadian whaling on endangered whales warrants action
    at this time.
        Accordingly, I have instructed the Department of State to oppose
    Canadian efforts to address takings of marine mammals within the newly
    formed Arctic Council. I have further instructed the Department of State
    to oppose Canadian efforts to address trade in marine mammal products
    within the Arctic Council. These actions grow from our concern about
    Canada's efforts to move whaling issues to fora other than the IWC and,
    more generally, about the taking of marine mammals in ways that are
    inconsistent with sound conservation practices.
        Second, I have instructed the Department of Commerce, in
    implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act, to withhold consideration
    of any Canadian requests for waivers to the existing moratorium on the
    importation of seals and/or seal products into the United States.
        Finally, the United States will continue to urge Canada to
    reconsider its unilateral decision to authorize whaling on endangered
    stocks and to authorize whaling outside the IWC.
        I believe the foregoing measures are more appropriate in addressing
    the problem of Canadian whaling than the imposition of import
    prohibitions at this time.
        I have asked the Departments of Commerce and State to keep this
    situation under close review.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    February 10, 1997.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    February 11.