5,585-signature petition delivered

to the PM, along with

98 sample comments and seven superyacht community letters, as IWC70 meets in Australia

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua –

The Antigua and Barbuda Coalition for the Protection of Whales delivered a petition yesterday signed by people from 87 countries and territories to the Right Honourable Gaston Browne, asking the Government to withdraw the draft resolution it has introduced at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) that could lead to the resumption of commercial whaling. The resolution is before the Commission’s 70th meeting, now under way in Hobart, Australia.

The petition carried 5,585 signatures received as of today’s date, from people in 87 different countries and territories across the world. Alongside the signatures, the Coalition submitted a document containing a sample of 98 of the thousands of comments that accompanied them, together with seven letters previously emailed to the Prime Minister by members of Antigua’s visiting superyacht community.

In its letter to the Prime Minister, the Coalition said it believes a review of the comments will give him and Commissioner Daven Joseph an important understanding of the impact that the country’s pro-whaling position has already had on Antigua and Barbuda’s international reputation.

“These signatures come from our own citizens and from the visitors, sailors and yacht owners who choose Antigua and Barbuda because of our healthy oceans,”

said Martha Watkins Gilkes, speaking for the Coalition.

“They are telling us clearly that support for commercial whaling does not reflect who we are as a nation. We respectfully ask the Prime Minister to listen, and to withdraw this resolution.”

The Coalition thanked the Prime Minister for his attention to the issue and has requested a meeting, following the completion of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) hosted by Antigua and Barbuda, to discuss the country’s position at the IWC going forward.

• This is the third time Antigua and Barbuda has submitted a resolution of this kind to the IWC, following earlier versions in 2022 and 2024. Both previous resolutions were withdrawn; in 2024 the country withdrew its resolution at IWC69 in Lima, Peru, after failing to reach consensus.

• The 2026 resolution is co-sponsored by Palau, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and Togo.

• A national opinion poll of more than 500 residents conducted in June, 2026 found that 64% of Antiguans and Barbudans oppose commercial whaling, while only 16% were in favour.

• Commercial whaling has been banned globally by the IWC since 1986. Antigua and Barbuda joined the IWC in 1982 and voted in favour of that ban. The country’s own laws protect all whales and dolphins in its waters.

• The petition remains open to the public at antiguaprotectwhales.org.

The Antigua and Barbuda Coalition for the Protection of Whales is an alliance of 9 local environmental organisations, supported by international partner organisations, working to align Antigua and Barbuda’s position at the International Whaling Commission with the views of its citizens and to protect its reputation as a world-class tourist and yachting destination.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Signatories from 87 Countries Urge Prime Minister Browne to Withdraw Commercial Whaling Resolution.