Sir, The conclusion that Japan’s decision to postpone killing 50 humpback whales in its ongoing Southern Ocean hunt is a result of its “buckling under mounting international pressure” (report, Dec 22) is too optimistic. A more likely explanation is that this is part of an ongoing international negotiation strategy. When Japan added the humpbacks to their planned “scientific” hunts, it knew this would cause international outrage. In effect, they generated a major new negotiating point relating to whaling and the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

What is Japan likely to want in exchange for the lives of the humpbacks? The answer is a weakening of the existing IWC global ban on commercial whaling. There has been much discussion of Japan’s “coastal whaling” activities over the years, including moves to reclassify them as some new type of whaling. However, any erosion of the definition of whaling for profit that the IWC presently forbids could have very significant implications for whale species and populations. For example, if Japan achieved some special dispensation this would open the door for other nations to claim the same flexibility.

One thing seems certain, the lives of the humpback whales, and many others besides, continue to hang in the balance as negotiations proceed. It is significant that in March 2008 the IWC is hosting a special intersessional meeting in the UK. This meeting, complete with expert facilitation, is aimed at finding agreement between the finely balanced numbers of pro- and anti-whaling nations. The key question is what will be the final cost for the whales of any agreements reached.

Mark Simmonds

International Director of Science, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

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