NZ, Australia to run non-lethal whaling project

Australia and New Zealand today announced the first Antarctic whale research expedition as part of the Southern Ocean Research Partnership.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, and Australian Environment Minister Peter Garrett said the expedition would strengthen the two countries' close relationship, and their commitment to non-lethal scientific research, ahead of next week's International Whaling Commission meeting in Madeira.

The expedition will involve six weeks of research in early 2010 aboard the New Zealand vessel R/V Tangaroa in Antarctic waters south of Australia and New Zealand.

For more information see the Beehive website.