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Costa Rica Opposes Whale Hunting
In the next meeting of the
International Whale Commission,
in May in Alaska, Costa Rica
will vote against the hunting of
whales, Minister of the
Environment Roberto Dobles
announced.
He said that this will be so
because several private
organizations have offered to
donate us$31,819, enough as a
down payment of the us$312,707
that the country owes the
Commission and the ticket for
Costa Rica to vote.
The debt had prevented Costa
Rica from casting her ballot
when making decisions such as in
the last meeting, when 35
nations voted against hunting
whales and 35 did for the
opposite.
According to local sources,
Costa Rica would have made the
difference in favor of whales.
Minister Dobles pointed out that
Costa Rica has a clear
environmental orientation and
will continue doing as much as
she can to protect whales.
He added that, according to
scientific research along the
last 10 years, 240 whales come
to spawn in Costa Rican waters
every year.
They are a major tourist
attraction and, even though they
are fully protected here, fewer
would come if they are hunted
elsewhere.
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