[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.