Latin American nations agree to extend whaling ban
Nations in Latin America have agreed to extend the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) ban on commercial whaling, the Argentine Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The decision was made in the Buenos Aires Declaration signed by a group of 14 nations following the Nov. 7-8 meeting, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The declaration also called on nations to promote whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic and South Pacific oceans, as well as the non-lethal use of whales.

The IWC, a commission regulating global whaling, banned commercial hunts in 1986, saving the species from near extinction.

But the moratorium included an exemption clause allowing countries to kill a limited number of whales for scientific research, which was regarded as a loophole long abused by Japan.

Nations participating in the meeting are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Uruguay, Panama and Peru. Four nations in other regions -- New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Spain -- are also present.