New Legislation Reasserts U.S. Leadership for Whale Protection Worldwide

WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The International Fund for
Animal Welfare (IFAW; www.ifaw.org) - together with Congressman Eni F.H.
Faleomavaega (D-AS) and Congressman William Delahunt (D-MA) - is championing
new legislation to mitigate threats to whales and their habitats worldwide.
Additional original co-sponsors of the bill include Congresswoman Madeleine
Bordallo (D-Guam) and Congresswoman Mazie Kirono (D-HI).

The International Whale Conservation and Protection Act of 2009 calls for the
U.S. to renew its whale conservation leadership worldwide. The legislation
comprehensively addresses major threats to whales including commercial
whaling, ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, ocean noise, and climate
change.

"We must do all we can to protect whales both in our waters and abroad," said
Jeff Flocken, IFAW DC Office Director. "As the critical June 2009 meeting of
the International Whaling Commission rapidly approaches, it is crucial for our
government to take the lead on opposing the resumption of commercial whaling,
ending lethal scientific whaling, and supporting global whale conservation."

Elements of the legislation include:
-- Promoting international efforts to conserve and protect the world's
whales throughout their range.
-- Strengthening the whale conservation and protection efforts of
relevant
international organizations including the United Nations Convention on
the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the
International
Whaling Commission (IWC), the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES), and the International Maritime
Organization.
-- Ensuring that the IWC commercial whaling ban is neither lifted nor
weakened and that the related illegal and lethal scientific whaling is
ended.
-- Reducing and, where possible, eliminating sources of human caused
death,
injury, harassment and disturbance of the world's whales.
-- Initiating and expanding research to improve our understanding of the
world's whales including health and reproduction, whale habitats
and the impacts of human activities and other threats to whales.

"The significance of this policy is that it is a comprehensive policy for
whale conservation across the United States government. This policy will be
represented, conveyed, and implemented in a consistent manner by all
departments, agencies, and overseas missions of the United States government
whose responsibilities include or touch upon matters relating to whaling or
whale conservation," said Congressman Eni F.H. Faleomavaega of American Samoa

Whale protection is vital to the species' recovery and sustainability. With a
new Administration in place, now is the time for the U.S. to reestablish
itself as a global leader in whale conservation. A new direction in policy is
also supported by other animal welfare and wildlife conservation groups.

"The Bush administration brokered closed door deals that could reduce
protections for whales and leave them vulnerable to commercial whaling," said
Michael Jasny, senior policy analyst for NRDC's Marine Mammal Protection
Project. "This bill reasserts U.S. leadership in whale conservation by ending
whaling for commercial purposes, by creating a long overdue scientific program
for whales, and by promoting international efforts to reduce ocean noise."

About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare)
As the world's leading animal welfare organization, IFAW works from its global
headquarters in the United States and 16 country offices to improve the
welfare of wild and domestic animals by reducing the commercial exploitation
of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in distress.
With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW works both on the ground and in
the halls of government to safeguard wild and domestic animals and seeks to
motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal
welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both animals
and people.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos and video available

SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare

Abby Berman, The Rosen Group, +1-646-695-7043, abby@rosengrouppr.com, for
IFAW; or Chris Cutter of IFAW, +1-508-737-4623, ccutter@ifaw.org