The International Whaling Commission (IWC) annual meeting came to a close. But neither pro nor anti-whaling nations have come to an agreement.

But the new Chairman, Cristian Maquieira is confident an agreement will be found in the next twelve months.

[Cristian Maquieira, IWC Chairman]:
"We have to establish a consensus as to what the IWC is and what it should do. Up to now there has been enormous difficulty because you have two different and somewhat contradictory perceptions to answer that question.”

The UK is willing to negotiate a compromise deal such as coastal whaling permits.

[Trevor Perfect, U.K. Commissioner]:
“Our concern on coastal whaling is that once you give it to one country, other countries will want it and there is very little you can argue against giving it to another country. But we will consider anything as part of a package."

Meanwhile, conservation groups urged the three pro-whaling nations of Japan, Norway and Iceland to start helping to save whales rather than hunting for commercial use.

[Patrick Ramage, Global Whale Program Director]:
“And it's up to those three countries now, with assistance from others in this Commission, to accommodate themselves to a new reality in the 21st century – that we need to focus more on how to protect these animals than killing them for their meat and other products."

The International Whaling Commission was founded in 1946 to regulate whaling and conserve whale stocks.