NORWEGIAN WHALE PRODUCTS TRIGGER PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS

WASHINGTON, DC (March 10, 2015): Whale meat shipped from Norway to Japan contains levels of harmful pesticides – including aldrin, dieldrin and chlordane – that violate human health standards established by the Japanese Government, according to tests conducted by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

 

Over the past two years, Norway has increased exports of minke whale products, shipping more than 137 tonnes of whale meat and blubber to Japan for human consumption.

 

However, according to documents recently obtained by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Japanese health officials raised concerns about shipments from two Norwegian exporters, Brødrene Astrup Andreassen A/S and Myklebust Hvalprodukter, and recommended the products be returned or abandoned.

 

“Norway is entirely too focused on making whaling profitable,” said Susan Millward, Executive Director of AWI, “and, as a result, is ignoring the potential harm the whale products pose to its own citizens and those in other countries.”

 

“Japan is right to take action to prevent the import of toxic Norwegian whale meat,” said Clare Perry, head of EIA’s Oceans Campaign. “However, it should also look to its own cetacean hunts, which provide thousands of tonnes of toxic whale and dolphin products for unsuspecting Japanese consumers, putting them at increased risk of serious diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, arteriosclerosis and diabetes.”

 

This is not the first time Norwegian whale meat has been the focus of health concerns in Japan. In 2009, whale meat exported by Olavsen A /S and Myklebust Hvalprodukter was rejected for sale in Japan because it contained levels of live bacteria in excess of that permitted.

 

Problems with contaminated Norwegian whale products are not confined to exported goods. Recent studies by the Norwegian National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research also found unacceptably high levels of organic contaminants – especially dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyl – in whale oil capsules produced for domestic consumption.

 

Norwegian demand for whale meat has fallen in recent years. To boost domestic sales, and with an eye on new export markets, both the Norwegian Government and its whaling industry are subsidising research, development and marketing of new whale-derived products.

 

AWI and EIA call on the Government of Norway to stop supporting research into alternative uses for whale meat and blubber and to immediately accept the international bans on commercial whaling and trade in whale products.

 

Guidebook on Youth Participation in the CBD

We have some super exciting news to share: In partnership with the CBD Secretariat, GYBN is going to publish a Guidebook on Youth Participation in the CBD - and you can all be part of it!!

We know that many of you are already involved in amazing projects on Biodiversity and are helping to create real change. We would love to feature some of these stories in the guidebook so that other youth can get inspired by your work! So please help us by submitting your stories through this form:http://bit.ly/gybn-guide

Also if you have any original photographs (owned by you) that you would like to send us that contribute to the experiences you are sharing (such as your organization working on a conservation project, you at a CBD meeting, etc.) please send them to: gybnsteeringcommittee@gmail.com

Denmark’s ratification edges the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress closer to entry into force

Montreal, 9 March 2015 – With Denmark’s ratification on 25 February, the Nagoya–Kuala Lumpur

Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety has received 75% of the necessary ratifications, with only 11 more ratifications needed for it to enter into force.

At its seventh meeting, the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP MOP 7) called upon Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to expedite their internal processes and to deposit their instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession to the Supplementary Protocol as soon as possible with a view to ensuring the entry into force of the Supplementary Protocol in time for the eighth meeting of the Parties.

Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said “Denmark’s ratification is further evidence of the firm commitment of many governments signatory to the Cartagena Protocol to bring the Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress into force as soon as possible. I strongly urge all countries that have not yet done so to ratify the Supplementary Protocol so that it could enter into force in time for the next Conference of the Parties, to be held in December 2016 in Los Cabos, Mexico.”

The ratification by Denmark brings to 30 the total number of ratifications to the Supplementary Protocol, including the approval by the European Union, which is not counted for the purpose of entry into force.  The Supplementary Protocol will enter into force on the 90th day after the date of deposit of the 40th instrument of ratification, accession, acceptance or approval by the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. It is highly likely that the Supplementary Protocol will receive the remaining 11 instruments of ratification or accession in the weeks and months to come and that it will enter into force in time for the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

The Supplementary Protocol aims to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity by providing international rules and procedures for response measures in the event of damage resulting from living modified organisms.

Denmark joins Albania, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates and Viet Nam, which have deposited their instruments of ratification or accession to the Supplementary Protocol.

Further information on becoming a Party to the Supplementary Protocol is available at:
http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/NKL_ratification.shtml

BLACK-NECKED CRANES OBSERVED – CHINA

Black necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) have been observed by Royal Society for Protection of Nature in Phobjikha, Central Bhutan. The total count this winter was 396 Black necked cranes for Phobjikha. 13 Ruddy shelducks were counted as well.

February 22

http://www.rspnbhutan.org/news-and-events/news/555-observing-the-black-necked-cranes-in-phobjikha.html Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence ……www. resourceshimalaya.org 4

CROCODILE SURVEY IN TERAI DRAIN- INDIA

The forest department has been successful to survey crocodiles beginning with the Terai East of Uttarakhand state, northern India. About 60 crocodiles were found within a five kilometers dirty drain in Surai range of western Terai. The scientists of Wildlife Institute have been anxious by the finding as the creature thrives in clean water.

February 26

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/60-crocs-found-in-five-km-Terai-drain/articleshow/46387658.cms

MIGRATORY BIRDS AT RISE- NEPAL

A study by Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) confirmed increased number of migratory birds by more than 2,000 at Jagdispur Lake in Kapilvastu district, western Nepal. The bird watchers deployed as a part of annual bird count at the lake have counted thousands of birds belonging to four species such as Common Coot (5,100) Northern Pintail (2,800) and Lesser Whistling Duck (1,500 ) this year, including 1,257 Common Teal, 2,130 Red-crested Pochard, 158 Ferruginous Duck, 265 Comman Pochard and 39 Tufted Duck. The rich biodiversity in the lake was in verge of collapse a few years back due to massive commercial fishing.

February 26

http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=92926

ACHHAM LAKES DRYING UP- NEPAL

The lakes of Accham district, far western Nepal, have started to dry up. The major causes were lack of conservation efforts, frequent landslides events and inadequate awareness among the locals. Jingalay, Lamadahi, Lissaydali, Taulo, Tallodhauney, Mathidhauney, Gagray, Dautheykhala, Dhalthana, Rame and Geraha have been able to attract both domestic and international tourists.

February 26

http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=92933