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The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is calling on Tony Blair to urgently increase diplomatic pressure to halt Japan's relentless drive to overturn the ban on commercial whaling.

This announcement takes place as delegates of member countries of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the body tasked with the management of whale conservation and whaling, gather next week in Cambridge to negotiate a management plan to be used if commercial whaling were to resume.

Since 2000, the Japanese Government has successfully recruited 16 developing countries to the IWC which vote with Japan on almost all issues. Supported by Norway and Iceland, their ultimate goal is a full-scale resumption of the commercial hunting of whales, overturning the 1986 international moratorium and eliminating the conservation mandate of the IWC.

Clare Perry, EIA’s Cetacean Campaign Manager, said:

"Last month, the hearts of millions of Britons were captured in the desperate attempt to save a single stranded whale in the Thames. Yet, if Japan and other whaling nations get their way, many thousands will be hunted and killed each year. Action needs to be taken now.”

Despite the moratorium, this year alone, Japan will kill almost 1,500 great whales through a scientific research loophole and 20,000 small whales, dolphins and porpoises in coastal hunts.

Whilst the UK government has taken firm action in opposing commercial whaling in the past, it is now clear that only high level diplomatic action can counter the very real threat posed to the world's remaining whale populations at this year's IWC.

• The management plan meeting, called the Revised Management Scheme Intersessional Working Group, will take place at the University Arms, Cambridge, from 28th February to 2nd March. The meeting is closed to press.

• The 2006 International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting will take place in June in St Kitts & Nevis.

• The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is the world’s leading organisation dedicated to investigating and exposing environmental crime.

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