Antigua & Barbuda has withdrawn its resolution that sought to end a decade's old moratorium on commercial whaling after accusing members of the International Whaling Commission of refusing to accept the responsibility of the organisation to engage in the management of the industry.
Antigua and Barbuda's IWC Commissioner, Daven Joseph, told the 69th meeting of the IWC, which ends on Sunday, that St. John's had been unable to receive the support needed to move this resolution forward in order to gain consensus.
Mr Joseph says work will continue intersessionally between interested contracting governments and representatives from civil society on the issues raised in the proposal.
The government had proposed the implementation of a Conservation and Management Programme for Whale Stocks Aimed Towards the Orderly Development and Management of the Whaling Industry.