The Australian Greens today expressed disappointment at the failure of the CCAMLR talks to establish the largest marine reserve on the planet and urged the Australian Government  to continue their efforts in the talks in Germany next year.

"Just this week in a briefing to Parliamentarians CSIRO acknowledged the limited understanding of the biodiversity of marine ecosystems and that is on top of the threats proposed by climate change and more acidic oceans on the food chain" said Australian Greens leader Senator Christine Milne.

The Australian Greens have welcomed reports that the Japanese whale hunt in the Southern Ocean may not go ahead this summer.

"This is great news for the whales of in the Southern Ocean. I am encouraged by reports suggesting the upcoming hunt may be put off due to the age and disrepair of the Nisshin Maru factory ship,” Australian Greens whaling and marine spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“This could be the beginning of the end of Japanese whaling, as changing domestic attitudes and financial pressures take their toll.

The Australian Greens have welcomed plans for peaceful protests to be held to mark Japan Dolphins Day 2012.

“Events have been organised in cities around the world to raise awareness of the annual dolphin cull in Taiji, Japan which starts on September 1,” Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens marine spokesperson said today.

“It is great to see a strong international campaign against this cull, which has been caught so graphically on film in the past.

“This cull is unnecessary, cruel and out-dated.

The Australian Greens have today called on the Environment Minister, Tony Burke, to explain his decision to vote in support of allowing St Vincent’s and the Grenadines to increase their take humpback whales at the recent International Whaling Committee meeting in Panama.
 
Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Marine and Fisheries, said today, “Supporting an increase in the St Vincent’s and the Grenadines's whaling quota is essentially supporting the slaughter of twenty-four Humpback Whales including the incidental killing of mothers and calves.
 

The Australian Greens said today it was encouraging to hear that South Korea is reconsidering its decision on so-called scientific whaling.

Greens spokesperson on whaling, Senator Rachel Siewert has urged the Federal Government to offer to share scientific research and understanding to South Korea.

"Reports are now suggesting that South Korea may consider alternatives to lethal whale research, which is a promising sign," Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

The Australian Greens have called on the Federal Government to engage fully with South Korea in an attempt to prevent them from undertaking so-called scientific whaling.

Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens spokesperson on Whaling said today that the possibility of more countries engaging in whaling practices was alarming.

“The lie that is scientific whaling cannot be allowed to shield further whaling operations,” Senator Siewert said today.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard should contact the Japanese Prime Minister to secure the release of three Australians being detained aboard a Japanese whaling vessel, Greens marine spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert told a media conference in Perth today.

The protesters from Forest Rescue Australia are being held off the coast of Bunbury aboard the Shonan Maru 2.

The Australian Greens have called on the Federal Government to ask Japan to remove is vessels from the Australian Whale Sanctuary, and to cease shadowing the Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin.

After meeting Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson in Fremantle today, Australian Greens Senators Rachel Siewert and Scott Ludlam said the presence of any Japanese vessels in the sanctuary was an unwelcome intrusion.

The ALP and Coalition have combined to block an Australian Greens motion condemning the slaughter of dolphins and porpoises by Japan.

Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens marine spokesperson said the annual Japanese dolphin and porpoise hunt is a deliberate attempt to overcome bans on the commercial killing of whales.

“This yearly kill is a disturbing display of regulated coastal whaling,” Senator Siewert said today.

Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens Marine Spokesperson has joined leader Senator Bob Brown in welcoming reports of a possible early end to Japan’s annual whale hunt in the Southern Ocean.

“Today’s news may well signal the beginning of the end of Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean,” Senator Siewert said in Canberra today.