William Hogarth steps down as both US delegate and the head of the deeply divided world whaling body after a meeting next month in Portugal, where he doubted any major progress would be reached.

The biologist, appointed by former president George W. Bush, faced heated questions at a congressional hearing from members of President Barack Obama's Democratic Party who accused him of surrendering too much to Japan.

Pressed by the panel, Hogarth said that Japan -- which kills whales under a loophole in a global moratorium that allows "lethal research" on the ocean giants -- had not put enough on the table.

"The US does not think that it's a reasonable proposal whatsoever," Hogarth said.

"I think that if Japan is not willing to discuss (further), then I do not see any future for any resolution to this issue."

Hogarth, who is also dean of the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science, spearheaded a series of closed-door negotiations with Japan and other nations.

Japan offered to reduce but not end its annual Antarctic hunts that infuriate whale-loving Australia and New Zealand, participants say. Japan has also pushed for the International Whaling Commission, or IWC, to accept whaling off its coasts.

"I am very disappointed that I'm leaving the chairmanship and the US commission with the IWC (while) still killing lots of whales, doing scientific whaling and that we just can't seem to resolve it," Hogarth said.

Japan says that whaling is its tradition and accuses Western nations of cultural insensitivity.

Norway and Iceland are the only nations that hunt whales in open defiance of the 1986 IWC moratorium on commercial whaling.

However, Hogarth said his efforts brought civility to the IWC, where annual meetings had long been showdowns between pro- and anti-whaling nations.

Under a deal brokered by Hogarth, Japan agreed in 2007 to suspend plans to expand its hunt to include humpback whales -- beloved by Australian whale-watchers -- for the first time in decades. In return, the IWC started small-group talks on the body's future.

But an IWC report issued this week acknowledged that gaps remained wide and that no compromise would be ready in time for next month's meeting on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

The report recommended another year of discussions, including study by scientists of Japan's proposal for coastal whaling.

But 35 members of Congress on Wednesday signed a letter to Obama voicing "serious concern" about continuing such talks, saying that they needed to have a clear goal of reducing the number of whales killed worldwide.

Madeleine Bordallo, a Democrat who represents the Pacific territory of Guam, told Hogarth at the hearing that the United States "has been and should remain a leader in conserving whale species."

"With threats to whales increasing -- such as underwater noise, pollution and climate change -- the US should strengthen rather than compromise away protections for these extraordinary animals," she said.

Kitty Block, vice president of Humane Society International, sharply criticized Hogarth at the hearing, saying the compromise effort was misguided.

"Why should Japan, having persistently ignored the international will on these issues, and defied the conservation measures of the IWC itself, now be rewarded with part of what it seeks?" she said.

Hogarth insisted the United States has not changed position under Obama, with all US officials seeking an end goal of reducing whaling.

However, the Obama administration has said it would only accept a whaling agreement that significantly increases conservation efforts.

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