Oil industry surveys putting whales' lives at risk

The oil industry is harming the lives of whales in the Russian Far East, according to the International Whaling Commission.

A number of governments gathered during the 63rd annual meeting of the organisation and stated that they are concerned over oil and gas operations near Russia's Sakhalin Island.

Richard Benyon, UK minister for natural environment and fisheries, said: "The UK is deeply concerned that ongoing industrial activities around Sakhalin Island continue to provide a threat to the population."

The region is home to around 130 western gray whales, with 26 of these being breeding females, and if one of these were to die then the species could quickly become extinct.

"Human activities do influence the western gray whale; our task is to minimise the impact from human activities. But we can't stop [human] progress, and we can't stop using oil," said Valentin Ilyashenko, Russia's delegation leader at the meeting told BBC News.