Japan Resumes Whale Hunting

Japan resumes whale hunting in Antarctica despite world wide condemnation. Their reason is given as scientific research.
Whaling is the hunting of whales and dates back to at least 6,000 BC. Whaling and other threats have led to at least five of the 13 great whales being listed as endangered.[1] Commercial whaling is subject to a moratorium by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), although the moratorium is hotly contested.
Whaling began in prehistoric times, and was initially confined to (near) coastal waters. Early whaling affected the development of many cultures.[citation needed] Although prehistoric hunting and gathering is generally considered to have low ecological impact, early whaling in the Arctic altered freshwater ecology.[2] The development of modern whaling techniques was spurred in the 19th century by the increase in demand for whale oil,[3] sometimes known as "train oil", and in the 20th century by a demand for whale meat. Nantucket, Massachusetts was once the whaling capital of the world.
Whale oil is used little today,[5] thus modern whaling primarily has commercial value as a food source. The primary species hunted is the minke whale, the second smallest of the baleen whales. Recent scientific surveys estimate a population of 179,000 in the central and North East Atlantic and 700,000 around Antarctica.[6]


Dominoes made from whale bonesInternational cooperation on whaling regulation started in 1931 and a number of multi-lateral agreements now exist in this area, the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) of 1946 being the most important. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) was founded by the ICRW for the purpose of giving management advice to the member nations on the basis of the work of the Scientific Committee. Countries which are not members of IWC are not bound by its regulation and conduct their own management programs.

The members of the IWC voted on 23 July 1982 to enter into a moratorium on all commercial whaling beginning in the 1985-86 season. Since 1992, the IWC Scientific Committee has requested of the IWC that it be allowed to give quota proposals for some whale stocks, but this has so far been refused by the IWC Plenary committee. Norway legitimately continues to hunt Minke Whales commercially under IWC regulations, as it has lodged an objection to the moratorium.
Canada left the IWC in 1982 and as such is not bound by the moratorium on whaling. Canadian whaling is carried out by various Inuit groups around the country in small numbers and is managed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The meat obtained from this whaling is commercially sold through shops and supermarkets. This meat is typically not available in southern metropolitan centers such as Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal but is more available in northern communities where whale meat is a component of the traditional diet. There is considerable consternation amongst conservationists about the hunt. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society says "Canada has pursued a policy of marine mammal management which appears to be more to do with political expediency rather than conservation."
Some whaling is conducted from Grenada, Dominica and Saint Lucia. Species hunted are the short-finned pilot whale, pygmy killer whale and spinner dolphins. Throughout the Caribbean, around 400 pilot whales are caught annually and their meat sold locally. The hunting of small cetaceans is not regulated by the IWC.

In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on the island of Bequia the International Whaling Commission allows natives of the island to catch up to four humpback whales per year using traditional hunting methods and equipment.
Whaling in the Faroe Islands has been practiced since at least the 10th century. It is strongly regulated by Faroese authorities and is not approved by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Around 950 long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melaena) are caught annually, although mainly during the summer. Occasionally, other species are hunted as well, such as the northern bottlenose whale and Atlantic white-sided dolphin. The hunts, called grindadráp in Faroese, are non-commercial and are organised on a community level; anyone can participate. The hunters first surround the pilot whales with a wide semicircle of boats. The boats then drive the pilot whales slowly into a bay or to the bottom of a fjord.

Most Faroese consider the hunt an important part of their culture and history and arguments about the topic rarely fail to raise strong emotions. Animal rights groups criticize the hunt as being cruel and unnecessary. The hunters claim in return that most journalists do not exhibit sufficient knowledge of the catch methods or its economic significance. With the ongoing marine pollution from large industrial nations, some speculate that the Faroese people will be without this source of food.

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[williams4511]

WELL I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS BUT I KILL WHALES FOR SPORT

[info145]

@AlAlslord

Not excuses. i don't believe in people starving and dying, that's why. Inuits WILL without whalemeat. Faroese and japanese will NOT starve and die! Trust me on that. Have some compassion for once. And how many times do i have to say it? The Inuits are an independent sovereign, a "First Nation", and NOT "Americans". i can only wish there were sufficient food alternatives for them. They also eat narwhal, and both are on a low scale

[info145]

@AlAlslord

Step 1) Get a dictionary

Step 2) Look up "sovereignty"

Step 3) Apologize to me

[AlAlslord]

@info145

Whatever you said, the fact is US government allows those American Inuits to kill whales in US territory. They can not decide whatever their own, the fed. government controls. Makah is a good example, that the gov. does not allow them to hunt whales.

And you said "only 50" bowheads, but bowhead is a way bigger than minke, about 10 times. Practically you are catching about half of our current quota. And of course we can argue the number of stocks.

[AlAlslord]

@info145

are you saying "American Inuits" are not American then? need for survival? on what based? A rich nation such as US can not send them food, is that what you are talking? I really think that is a double standard. If you are saying Japan shall not catch a whale in international water, I still understand, but Japan is "sovereign" country, and all of us need a job. and one takes whaling, then that is the way of survival for them.

[info145]

The inuits are a sovereign, but aren't a country.

Secondly, whaling should only be allowed to those who "need" it for survival...

meaning, not on an industrial level (compare the japanese to the inuits)

For the Inuit people, whale meat is over 60% of their TOTAL food. Plus, they kill only 50 Bowheads per year. Inuits are Native Americans... not technically "America" (even if they some happen to be in Alaska)

[info145]

@AlAlslord

Sorry, but you are indeed incorrect. Legally speaking, Inuits are not citizens of the United States. They're in the Canadian Northwest Territories, Denmark, Russia and yes some happen to be in Alaska. How can someone who lives in Canada, Greenland, Siberia and Alaska all be American? They are their own sovereign people! They are "separate" from those countries

[AlAlslord]

@info145

then don't count Japan neither.

Or, mighty and greatest country in the world can decide everything, and Uncle Sam does not allow Japanese whaling, but kindly enough allow their people, Inuit, to hunt whales?

that makes sense to me.

[info145]

@AlAlslord

Inuits don't count