In 1990, the archipelago became a whale sanctuary.
The whaling countries rejected two proposals for whale sanctuaries.
By what right does Japan continue to kill protected whales in internationally recognized whale sanctuaries?
The proposal for a whale sanctuary was originally submitted by France.
Shima said Japan would favor a compromise among all the proposals for whale sanctuaries put forth at the meeting.
Two areas are not included in this region, one in the Indian Ocean where there already is a whale sanctuary.
The Indian Ocean was declared a whale sanctuary in 1979.
A proposal by France to create a whale sanctuary in the southern ocean below 40 S may provide grounds for delay.
We have also succeeded in creating a whale sanctuary in the southern ocean around Antarctica.
France has proposed that the entire Antarctic region south of 40 degrees latitude be made into a whale sanctuary.