[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 6 (Monday, February 12, 1996)]
[Page 233]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 instructed 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.