When the International Whaling Commission (IWC) met in Australia, in July 2000, many participants expected it to create a large whale sanctuary in the South Pacific. This sanctuary would have extended the existing Antarctic whale sanctuary, which covers the feeding grounds of the great whales, so that the warmer areas where the whales give birth and raise their young are also protected. The signs were good:
- The development of the sanctuary proposal was supported by South Pacific Forum, an intergovernmental group whose members include all 16 Pacific Island countries and territories within the proposed sanctuary area.
- The proposal had been under development for two years and scientific papers about the sanctuary were made available to the IWC's scientists.
- The director of the South Pacific Regional Environmental program attended the meeting and spoke in favour of the sanctuary which would bring both conservation and economic benefit to the area.
