Following the recent killing of two humpback whales in waters off St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVAG), Marine Connection supporter musician Bryan Adams, successfully intercepted whalers whilst in Mustique attempting to hunt down and kill another humpback whale in the 1,000-metre conservation zone, putting himself and his SUP board between the whalers and the animal.
Marine Connection has written to Ralph Everard Gonsalves, Prime Minister of SVAG in an attempt to address this ongoing issue as a matter of urgency. Whilst SVAG does have a legal kill quota from the International Whaling Commission (IWC), for 4 whales per year for ‘subsistence or aboriginal whaling’ we believe the use of speedboats, which can chase down whales over greater distances and for a longer period of time, are in direct violation of IWC regulations governing permitted takes. We are now asking both the Prime Minister and the local IWC Commissioner to investigate how whaling is being interpreted in the area, and why these practices are being permitted.
