Japan seeks restart of commercial whaling

[HelenM]

PLEASE... this is intended for info only, not to provoke a re-start of the whaling ruck of a couple of months ago.

Play nice kids (Odds please....!)
H
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Japan seeks commercial whaling OK


By Alex Kirby
BBC News Online environment correspondent, in Sorrento, Italy


Minke whales reach about 10m at maturity (Image: Francois Gohier)

Japan has asked the International Whaling Commission to let it restart the commercial hunting of whales.

It wants to kill almost 3,000 Antarctic minkes, nearly five times its current annual catch for scientific research.

But BBC News Online has learnt the move is a stratagem designed simply to discredit the IWC, which is certain to reject the proposal.

The meeting is split between a dwindling anti-whaling majority and a growing whaling group, led by Japan.

Tokyo has respected the moratorium on commercial whaling agreed by the IWC since it came into effect in 1986.

Commission's purpose

It now says it wants to catch 2,914 minkes, the smallest of the great whales at about 10m long at maturity.

A statement by Japan's Fisheries Agency said this proposed annual quota represented less than 0.05% of the Antarctic minke population, which the IWC scientific committee estimated in 1990 at 760,000 animals.

Minke whales are extremely abundant in the Southern Ocean - the population will be able to fully sustain the proposed quota


Minoru Morimoto, Japan delegation

The committee is working to update this estimate. The leader of Japan's delegation at the IWC, Mr Minoru Morimoto, said: "Minke whales are extremely abundant in the Southern Ocean - the population will be able to fully sustain the proposed quota and at the same time maintain its current healthy abundance levels."

He said part of the profit would be put towards "the welfare of the world's people" and the rational use and management of global whale resources.

In a telling passage, he said: "The IWC was developed to establish the commercial whaling industry. The resumption of sustainable whaling in the Antarctic will validate the continuing existence of the IWC... "

Mr Morimoto did not add that many IWC members - still a majority, if only just - want the commission to conserve whales, not the whaling it was established to protect.

Threatened walk

The proposal for a commercial catch flies in the face of Japan's policy down the years.

Although it catches not only minke but sei, Bryde's and sperm whales in the Antarctic and the North Pacific, it does so in the name of research, which the IWC's rules allow.

It has never until now suggested that it would contemplate a resumption of commercial hunting.

One source told BBC News Online: "Japan knows perfectly well the commission won't accept its proposal, and it has no intention of starting commercial whaling again.

This is all about showing that the IWC doesn't work, to strengthen Japan's hand in preparing to walk out."

Secret ballots

In his opening statement to the meeting, Mr Morimoto said the general public and parliamentarians had "come to the end of their patience" with the IWC, and another member of the delegation told BBC News Online Japan would withdraw in 2006 if it were still dissatisfied.

It says it will continue its scientific whaling in the Antarctic and increase its catches in the North Pacific.

Norway says it plans to increase its annual commercial catch of 6-700 North Atlantic minke whales, possibly to 1,800 animals, by 2008. Because it objected to the moratorium when it was agreed, Norway is not bound by it. Japan came close on Monday to making sure IWC votes were taken through secret ballots. It claimed this would protect smaller nations on the commission from economic and political pressure from anti-whaling countries and organisations. The move was defeated by 29 votes to 24.

[Narked@50]

Yes, everyone play nice, but don't kill the whales.

James

[japandiver]

Couple of observations about the Japanese moves on whaling...

This is more about domestic Japanese politics than anything else. The ruling LDP party is not doing well and they are looking for issues to show them protecting Japanese interests internationally. This issue is a vote-winner in a few port towns where the whaling fleet works out of and with the voters with a nationalistic outlook.

Most Japanese I know don`t actually like eating whale - the older generation were fed it at school and hate it and the younger generation just don`t like the taste. Given the choice, most people strongly prefer US beef to Japanese whale. Domestically the pro-whaling groups are working hard to market the stuff - without a great deal of success and it is rumoured that about 5 years worth of the current quota from "scientific" whaling is currently stock-piled and unwanted.

The outcome of the current row will only be solved through diplomatic give and take - Japan may not what to start whaling but they will want to be seen to fighting and they will want something else. So the short-term response is to support Greenpeace et al and ensure that UK politicians and diplomats fight this issue. In the medium term, economics will determine whether Japan continues whaling (scientific or otherwise). If people don`t buy the stuff and the elderly whaling population dies out and is not replaced by the younger people then it will stop.

Have a look at Greenpeace Japan`s website:


http://www.greenpeace.or.jp/index_en_html


http://www.greenpeace.or.jp/campaign.../index_en_html

Hugh

[Norseman]

Originally Posted by japandiver

Couple of observations about the Japanese moves on whaling...

Hey, very interesting reading.

I guess it's about the same here in Norway. Most young people don't give a toss whether there's whale in the shops or not. I guess also here it's a matter of politics and sovereignity. My guess is within not so many years the whole whaling issue will die out by itself and due lack of demand.

The issue of the toxin level in the whales has also been raised here and with children and pregnant women being recommended not to eat the stuff there's a good chance in the end a common recommendation will put whaling to an end.

Whether that's good or bad for the fish stocks will then be discovered through empiri.

Regards,

Kyrre

[John N]

Japan have been playing a 'long' game for over ten years by providing aid to many small countries such as Tuvalu, Mauritania and Surinam which are then joining the commission to vote with the Japanese.

There was concern that this would mean the pro-whaling vote would be in the majority this year, but the Japanese lost a vote on secret ballots by a slim margin.

The ban probably won't get overturned this year now. If more small countries paid by Japan join though, it's just a matter of time.

It's interesting to get information on the ground about people's attitudes changing though.

[Dr Stevil]

Back in my Zoology undergraduate days, one of the lecturers was expounding on this and reckoned that the Japanese digging their heels in over whaling was something of a smokescreen to protect their stronger interest in Tuna.
Can't say how true that was or was not (or is or is not, if you follow my drift).

I'd like to see it die out (obviously) along with the shark fin trade (a more forlorn wish).

[SCUBA Chick]

'scientific research'......................

How hilarious.

Scubachick