Cook Islands project whale-friendly image
By Jano Gibson May 2002
A NEW project in the Cook Islands is aiming to use education as "the magic link" in efforts to conserve the leviathans of the ocean - the whales.
The Whale Education Centre on the island of Rarotonga at this stage may only be a small, colourful building with whale murals painted on its walls, but its operators envisage it playing an integral role in safeguarding these giant mammals.
"Raising awareness leads to conservation efforts," said its co-developer, Nan.
"Once people learn how fascinating whales and dolphins are, they feel a kinship with them and understand the need to protect them."
The facility will be open to all and will cost nothing to visit. Local children, fisherfolk, international tourists and research workers are all welcome.
"Kids will be able to draw dolphins at tables for kids," said its other developer Michael Taveone.
"When the laboratory and the accommodation are finished, we will invite young research workers here to spend one month or three months doing research work in the lab or the ocean or the centre. Any researcher doing work on whales is welcome to come stay here to pursue their work."
Visitors can see displays of whale teeth, whale skulls, whale oil, pictures, information about eating and breeding habits and "anything to do with whales".
But there is one item that is synonymous with whale hunting that Mr Taveone really wants to display at the centre.
"We want to get the harpoons to demonstrate the error of whaling."
Even though the centre won't officially open until July, tourists and school children are visiting every day.
"They are so excited. Everyone stopped by while we were building," said Nan.
Michael Taveone said "It's always been a dream of mine to have a room of mementos dedicated to whales".
To turn the dream into reality a lot of money was required.
"First Nan got $US10,000 in donations from the United States, and then my niece and I donated the land for the building," says Mr Taveone.
The four year effort has been tough but worthwhile according to Nan. "I'm exhausted but it's such a big pay back," she said.
"What we lack now is the laboratory behind the centre and the volunteer accommodation. We have land for those but no money to start the building yet."
But Mr Taveone maintains a positive outlook. We are lucky to have made it this far. It should be easier from now on, he said.
The idea for the centre was formed in 1998 when Nan, who was doing humpback whale research off Palmerston Atoll, heard about a collection of whale skulls held by legendary woodcarver Michael.
"We realised we both had this deep respect for whales and that it would be a wonderful thing to teach people about whales," said Nan.
Cook Islands is a safe haven for migrating whales. In September last year the government established a whale sanctuary that encompasses its entire 200-kilometre Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
"It is a huge message to the world and especially Japan that the Cook Islands people will not tolerate the killing of whales and dolphins," said Nan.
"Hopefully it will inspire other neighbouring countries to follow suit and a huge whale sanctuary will spread thoughout Oceania."
Sanctuaries Already French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea and recently Niue, have declared they too will create their own EEZ sanctuaries.
A proposal for the establishment of a whale sanctuary covering the entire South Pacific has been put forward at the past two annual International Whaling Commission meetings.
However, much to the disappointment of Michael, the proposal has failed to win the necessary two-thirds majority vote.
"I'm really upset that it was not possible," he said. Many argue that it failed because Japan has been offering financial aid to poor countries in exchange for votes.
The regional sanctuary proposal may go before the International Whaling Commission meeting in Japan in May 2002. Palau and Solomon Islands, two countries with very close links to pro-whaling Japan, will be there.
"We are asking them to remember the wishes of their close Pacific Island neighbours when they cast their votes this week," said Pio Manoa, Greenpeace's oceans campaigner from Fiji.
Countries like Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea and French Polynesia are working towards national whale sanctuaries because their views are not represented in the International Whaling Commission.
Cook Islands' Prime Minister Dr Woonton is keen for the world to be aware of his nation's progressive whale conservation agenda.
"We look forward to welcoming visitors from around the world who share our great conviction in assisting in the recovery of one of the wonders of the natural world," he said at the launch of the Cook Islands Whale Sanctuary last September.
Projecting a whale-friendly image to the world reaps significant economic rewards.
International Fund for Animal Welfare estimates that the whale watching industry is worth $US1-billion annually.
For small economies in the South Pacific, even a meagre slice of the whale watching economic pie is substantial.
Whale watching in Tonga last year contributed $US1 million into its economy. It is hoped that the Whale Education Centre will work in tandem with the Whale Sanctuary to help promote tourism in the Cook Islands.
The Cook Islands will be known as a place helping to conserve whales, said Mr Taveone.
Given the choice between whale hunting and whale watching for the Pacific, Nan Hauser cites inter-generational inequality as one of the main reasons for not supporting whale hunting.
"I think that it is an obvious choice. Whaling is not only a brutal act but whalers take away any future possibilities for their children and grandchildren to reap any benefits from whale watching if they kill them," she said.
The Cook Islands Education Centre may not be the first of its kind in the world, but this one is positioned in a region that is vital for the long-term protection of the great whales.
Despite the protection whales have in the Cook Islands' territorial waters, the expansive South Pacific region is still keenly sought after by the Japanese whaling industry for commercial whale hunting.
One of the arguments for the resumption of whaling in the South Pacific claimed by the Japanese Fisheries Agency, is that whales consume too much fish and therefore endanger Pacific fisheries.
Nan rejects this argument. "That is just a ploy by Japan. When I came here in 1998 I wanted to tell people what was going on and stop them from selling out to Japan. The fishermen need to know the real facts," she said.
The Whale Education Centre is a place for these facts to be delivered to the local and world communities.
"Everybody already knows that we have thousands of extinct animals," said Michael. "That is a proven fact. It is easy for whales to go that way through hunting and pollution of water. The centre is for teaching and giving out information. The main objective is for conservation, that's all. They have a right to be here - to be in the ocean."
Originally published in the Papua New Guinea Post - Courier Online:
http://www.postcourier.com.pg/
Jano Gibson is a student at UTS
<May 2002>