Talks at the International Whaling commission resume with pressure growing for an end to the ban on commercial hunting

Although commercial whaling is officially banned -international trade in whale meat between hunting nations is quietly picking up again - according to enviromental campaigners. This is one of the issues to dominate the five day annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission which opens today on the Portugese island of Madeira. Whaling nations are increasing their call for rules on commercial hunting to be relaxed. Environmental groups are also putting pressure on contries like Japan for their whaling practices. +++ SYN-Maz +++