Japan wants to hunt Antarctic whales
Jul 25, 2004 21: 42 EST
Just a few weeks ago the entire world was up in arms over Steve Irwin, known around the world as the Crocodile Hunter, swimming too close to whales. That situation sparked worldwide media interest and a subsequent investigation that ultimately vindicated Steve Irwin of any wrongdoing.
That was small beans compared to what Japan wants to do. The country claims the following, “Minke whales are extremely abundant in the southern ocean,” said Japan’s commissioner to the IWC, Minoru Morimoto. Their proposal to the IWC is that they want to hunt 2914 Minke whales from Antarctic waters yearly. Japan already catches about 700 whales a year, under the scientific management plan. This is a loophole in the 1986 imposed ban on commercial whaling.
It was decided in the most recent IWC (International Whaling Commission) meeting that, that commercial whaling would be discussed at next year’s meeting and there was no deadline as of now for the vote. Japan was trying to get a vote forced for next year to lift the ban on commercial whaling.
The Catch 22 here is that many are fearful that if the commercial whaling ban is not lifted, Japan will just choose to ditch out and go hunting, unregulated and unfettered. At least if a sustainable plan was agreed upon by the nations of the IWC, the whaling would be under some control. It is reported, however, that, “Greenpeace Japan secretary-general Masahi Kimura doubted Japan would withdraw.”
Though nothing is certain, it seems likely that when a vote is made, Japan will not find the 75% support amongst the 57 countries represented in the committee. The movement is call the RMS, or Revised Management Scheme. The IWC describes it as follows:
“Given this scientific advance which has been accepted by the Commission, there has been pressure from some countries to remove the moratorium for certain stocks of minke whales. However, before the RMP is implemented and the moratorium on commercial whaling lifted, the IWC has agreed that an inspection and observation scheme must be in place to ensure that agreed catch limits are not exceeded. It is this combination of scientific and non-scientific factors that comprises the Revised Management Scheme.”
Japan considers whale meat a delicacy, as do several other nations – Norway and Iceland. What can you do to stop whaling? For one, you can join an organization called Greenpeace by making donations or getting involved in their activism. Greenpeace is a non-profit organization, with a presence in 40 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. Amongst other things they campaign to stop whaling. Sometimes even placing their vessels in the way of whaling ships – a form of ‘Monkey Wrenching’.
A moratorium on commercial whaling was enacted in 1986. Japan is now trying to have that ban lifted in order to commercially hunt whales for their meat. A deadline for a vote has yet to be made, but this specific issue will be the focus of next year’s IWC meeting.
Image of a Greenpeace boat getting hosed while attempting to thwart a Japanese whaling boat courtesy of Greenpeace/Cunningham.
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