Belgium joins international coalition against whaling

Belgium yesterday became a member of the Southern Ocean Research Partnership of the International Whaling Commission (IWC-SORP). With the membership, Belgium sends a clear message to the rest of the world that it is committed to protecting the whales, according to an announcement by the FPS Health, which is also responsible for environment, writes De Morgen.

IWC-SORP is an alliance of 12 countries that support scientific research on whales and dolphins, with an aim to protect them. The studies are carried out in Belgium by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and university researchers.

The alliance also provides a counterweight to Japan, which continues to hunt the marine mammals, despite widespread protest from around the world.