This afternoon, representatives from Centro de Conservación Cetácea (CCC), Centro Ecocéanos, and the Observatorio Latinoamericano de Conflictos Ambientales (OLCA) delivered a letter to President Gabriel Boric at the Palacio La Moneda, requesting the urgent payment of the Chilean government’s debt to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) — the global authority responsible of the conservation and management of cetacean populations.

The IWC will convene its 69th plenary assembly in Lima, Peru, from September 22 to 27. For the first time in the history of Chile’s membership, the country could be denied its voting rights due to this unsettled debt.

The letter emphasizes that without the ability to vote, Chile’s representation in Lima will be unable to advocate for and endorse critical proposals pertaining to the future of whale populations globally.

Elsa Cabrera, director of the Centro de Conservación Cetacea, expressed her concerns, stating that “the government’s failure to address this minimal debt, especially when compared to the membership costs of other international agreements, is extremely worrying. It would inhibit Chile from voting in favor of proposals vital to our regional interests, such as the establishment of the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary, and would hinder our progress on initiatives that Chile has championed, including recognizing the contributions of live whales to funtioning of the ecosystem.”

Cabrera further noted that “it would be particularly concerning if, as a member of the IWC, Chile is unable to vote against proposals from countries aligned with Japan’s whaling interests, which aim to dismantle the global moratorium on commercial whaling, allowing Japan to resume such activities in the Southern Hemisphere.”

The civil organizations emphasize in their letter that Chile has a state policy dedicated to the conservation and non-lethal use of whales, as enshrined in Law 20.293, which mandates government authorities to protect and conserve these species both nationally and internationally, primarily through active voting participation in the IWC.

Juan Carlos Cárdenas, executive director of Centro Ecoceanos, stated, “If this serious oversight by the self-proclaimed `environmental government´of President Boric is not rectified promptly, he would become the first president since 1979 to neglect this sensitive issue that is paramount to Chilean citizens and the protection of our oceans, leaving our country without of its voting rights and facilitating the actions of nations eager to resume whaling in the Pacific, Southern Ocean, and Antarctica.”

The letter also highlights that the economic benefits derived from live whales, which contribute to the functioning of marine ecosystems and generate significant income for coastal communities reliant on whale-based tourism, amount to billions of dollars annually. In stark contrast, Chile’s outstanding debt to the IWC hovers around $35,000 US dollars — an additional incentive for President Boric’s administration to prioritize the payment.

Lucio Cuenca, executive director of OLCA Chile, asserted, “It is essential that Chile actively participates with voting rights at the upcoming International Whaling Commission assembly in Lima to champion our nation’s and coastal communities’ rights to utilize whales and other cetacean species in a non-lethal manner. This engagement is particularly urgent given the crucial role these living beings play in vital issues, such as primary marine productivity for healthy fisheries and carbon dioxide sequestration to combat climate change.”

Through this initiative, the organizations appeal to President Gabriel Boric’s government to settle the IWC debt before September 21, thereby fulfilling its pledge to be the first green administration in Chile’s history. Failure to do so, they argue, would mark it as the first government to deprive Chile of its right to safeguard the life and future of whales within this international forum.

Finally, the organizations urge the public to remain vigilant and actively support this cause on social media, urging President Boric and the relevant authorities to promptly address Chile’s debt to the IWC.