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September 25, 2000
Brazil creates southern right whale sanctuary
Brazil has approved a new 600 square mile sanctuary to protect the endangered southern right whale along 80 miles of its coastline where these whales gather and give birth from June to December.

An old whaling factory at Imbituba that was closed down in 1973 for lack of whales is being converted to a whale conservation museum by the Brazilian Right Whale Project  This project is compatible with the government's policy of "sustainable non-lethal use" of whales by developing countries.  This policy is threatened by Japan's push to resume commercial whaling.

About 7,000 southern  right whales have survived out a former population estimated to have been at least 100,000.

The sanctuary, which will permit whale watching, joins other right whale sanctuaries off Argentina and South Africa.  It will also afford protection to resident pods of bottlenose dolphins, colonies of seabirds and coastal vegetation..  >

Statement from President Clinton
THE WHITE HOUSE   September 13, 2000
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

Following Secretary Mineta's certification that Japan is undermining
international whaling protections with its expanded whaling program, I am today directing that Japan be denied future access to fishing rights in
U.S. waters, and directing members of my Cabinet to consider additional
steps we might take, including possible trade sanctions.

Strong international cooperation has allowed the recovery of many
whale species once pushed to the brink of extinction. We must work to
ensure that these protections are upheld. I hope that the steps we take
today will encourage Japan to reverse its actions and respect the strong
international consensus that has helped bring back some of Earth's most
majestic creatures.  END

Secretary of Commerce Norman Mineta has certified Japan under the Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967 which gives the president authority to impose trade sanctions against Japan for killing Bryde's and sperm whales which are protected by US law. The president has asked the cabinet to come up with suggestions of what other measures might be taken within the next 60 days.

Besides several diplomatic protests and letters of complaint to Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, President Clinton has boycotted a United Nations meeting in Japan and cancelled a fisheries meeting with Japan.  The US is conferring with other International Whaling Commission members about blocking Japan's bid to host the next IWC meeting in January 2001.

Japan threatens to sic the World Trade Organization on the US if sanctions are imposed.  The US hopes Japan will back down and stop commercial whaling under the guise of "scientific research" before it takes the step of imposing sanctions.

August 28, 2000
Dolphin saves boy from drowning.  A dolphin rescued a 14-year old boy who couldn't swim after he fell off a sailboat in the Gulf of Manfedonia, Italy.  He said something pushed him to the surface when he was "slipping under the water."  When he realized it was the friendly dolphin known as Fillip, he clung to him and was taken back to the boat.

September 24, 2000
Whales may live 200 years.  Some of the ancient harpoon points found in bowhead whales legally killed by Inupiat Eskimos in Alaska  indicated that the wounds had been inflicted 100 years ago..  Using a method that analyzes aspartic in bones, teeth or eye lenses to determine age, Jeffrey L. Bada of Scripps Institution of Oceanograpy determined the ages of five recently killed males to range from 90 to over 200 years.  These estimates jibed with the styles of the stone Harpoon points that were found.  Two other tests for assessing age will be conducted to confirm this starting finding.
 
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