Commercial Whaling - An overview and how you can get involved.

-

Posting by Tammy Silva, NECWA intern.

Commercial whaling first began in the 17th century. The hunt for whales reached its peak in the 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to the decimation of whale populations world-wide. New England is richly steeped in the whaling industry and her traditions. The nearby city of New Bedford, MA was once known as the whaling capital of the world; in fact, in the mid 1800s over half of the whaling ships in the world called New Bedford their home port. Provincetown, MA was the second largest whaling port for at one time over 170 whaling ships departed from its well protected harbor.

As whale population continued to decline, it was clear that the whaling industry needed some sort of regulation or oversight. In 1946, an international agreement (the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling) established the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The IWC is an international body whose main purpose is to govern whaling throughout the world. Any country can become a member of the IWC as long as they follow the Convention of 1946.

Through the mid 20th century, over-exploited whale populations were not increasing; therefore, in 1986, the IWC issued a moratorium banning commercial whaling. Despite this ban, three countries continue to engage in commercial whaling: Iceland, Norway, and Japan. Both Iceland and Norway have officially objected to the moratorium and continue to hunt certain species of whales on a commercial basis. Iceland mainly hunts Minke and Fin whales from the Central and North-eastern Atlantic Ocean. Norway almost exclusively hunts Minke whales from the North- eastern Atlantic

Japan is also continuing to hunt whales on a reduced basis by exploiting a loophole in the moratorium. Japan justifies their hunt by saying that it is part of their scientific research program (To read about Japan’s research program from their point of view, visit Japan’s Institute of Cetacean Research http://www.icrwhale.org/WhatsResearchAbout.htm. To read an article contradicting some points of Japan’s research program, visit http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/03/15/whaling-research-hunt-japan.html).

Killing whales for scientific research is allowed under the moratorium with possession of an IWC issued permit. Japan, as well as Iceland, has been issued a permit by the IWC. Although Japan claims that whales are hunted for scientific purposes, whale meat is sold on the Japanese market and is on the menu of many restaurants. Japan’s largest whaling efforts occur in the Southern Ocean, where Minke, Fin whales and are hunted. Japan also hunts Sei, Bryde’s, Sperm and Minke Whales in the North Pacific Ocean.

Although approximately 1700 whales are still killed every year, certain member countries in the IWC recently proposed that the 24 year-old ban on whaling be lifted. According to the proposal Iceland, Norway and Japan would be allowed to hunt whales legally if they reduced the number of whales that they catch now. Some members nations in the IWC have reasoned that by legalizing whaling, the total number of whales killed over the next 10 years would be vastly reduced and the IWC’s power in governing whaling would be strengthened. However, many supporters of the moratorium feel that legalizing whaling again would only increase the total number of whales killed and would undo everything that scientists and whale activists have worked to achieve in the past 24 years.

During President Obama’s campaign, he promised to "strengthen the moratorium on commercial whaling." President Obama also stated that “allowing Japan to continue commercial whaling is unacceptable.” This past spring, the Obama administration expressed support for the IWC proposal to lift the moratorium on commercial whaling. President Obama’s support for this new proposal directly opposed his campaign promise to lead the world in ending whaling.

The American people exhibited an overwhelming response combating President Obama’s support of this proposal and we achieved a small victory; at the meeting of the IWC in Agadir, Morocco in June 2010, the US government issued this statement: "First and foremost, the United States continues to support the commercial whaling moratorium. We strongly oppose lethal scientific whaling – we strongly believe it unnecessary for modern whale conservation and management. In particular, the United States is concerned by whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary, and by the increased international trade and black market trade in whale meat and whale products."

The members of the IWC failed to come to an agreement on the proposal at the June 2010 meeting and the negotiations on the moratorium have been halted for at least another year. But this proposal should not be considered again! Whaling is cruel, inhumane, archaic and illegal. The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) states that “there is no way to hunt and kill whales at sea without causing acute suffering. Visibility, sea swells, and movements of the boat make it impossible to insure a lethal shot at sea. Whales can suffer up to a full hour before they succumb to the rifles and harpoons of the hunters.”

In the face of climate change, global pollution and a plethora of other man-made challenges, we should be working together to conserve, preserve and protect these magnificent mammals, NOT hunt them! We need to keep encouraging President Obama to do more to save the whales and end whaling and you can help!

Here is what you can do!

  1. Write your own letter, call or fax President Obama
    President Barack Obama
    The White House
    600 Pennsylvania Avenue
    Washington, DC 20500

Comment Line: (202) 456-1111
Fax: (202) 456-2461

  1. Send a message to President Obama

Visit the CA Coalition Against Whaling website: http://sites.google.com/site/cacoalitionagainstwhaling

At the top of the page click the “learn more, do more” link. This link will bring you to another page of links where you can send an automated message to President Obama.

  1. Write/fax and call your US Representatives and Senators: The Capitol switchboard is (202) 456-1414.
  1. Boycott Japan: Email the Japanese Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, and tell him you will not purchase any Japanese products or visit Japan until they stop killing whales. You can also send an automated message at: http://sites.google.com/site/cacoalitionagainstwhaling


To learn more:


Relevant articles:


To Learn More About NECWA ...

To learn more about us, the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance, please ...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Electric Torpedo Ray of New England

-
Image
The Shocking Ray of New England Blog by  Coleman Earner - December 21, 2020 Dead Torpedo Ray in Brewster, MA Torpedo Rays are a genus of rays that are part of the Order  Torpediniformes (electric rays). In reference to local sightings, the most commonly seen torpedo ray in the Cape Cod region is the Atlantic Torpedo ( Torpedo nobiliana ). They are cartilaginous fish (most similar to the structure of sharks and skates) with a flat and rounded disc-like structure. As suggested by their order, torpedo rays are most commonly known for their ability to discharge electricity of up to 220 volts from both pectoral fins (pectoral fins are flat and expanded and fused to the head area) as a self defense mechanism or as a means of capturing prey. Their feeding strategy consists of burying themselves under the sand and waiting for unsuspecting prey to wander by.  Dead Torpedo Ray on a Cape Cod Beach. Torpedo Rays feed mainly on benthic/pelagic fish such as flounders, damselfish, and other small fis
Read more

Ocean sunfish stranding at Linnell Landing - October 9, 2010

-
Image
This afternoon, Chris called about an ocean sunfish that stranded dead at the end of Linnell Landing in Brewster, MA. Krill Carson along with two NECWA interns, Nick Schomburg and Caitlyn Dionne, headed down or met at Linnell Landing in the late afternoon. When they arrived on the shores of Cape Cod Bay, a crowd was gathering around the ocean sunfish carcass that was just off the beach parking lot. This sunfish was almost 6 feet in length and some of the beachgoers indicated that it had come up on the beach around 2 pm that day. At first, it was difficult to look at the deep propellor scars that cut through the dorsal (top) surface of the sunfish and extended into its left flank. But sunset was quickly approaching so this team focused at the task at hand, that was collecting body measurements as well as tissues from this carcass. Nick and Krill conducted a Level A exam on the carcass and Caitlyn took pictures as well as recorded data. Krill was able to determine that this animal was
Read more

Wareham Classrooms have 2 Headstart Diamondback Terrapins

-
Image
Wareham Classrooms have 2 Headstart Diamondback Terrapins Terrapin Crush prior to this turtle's release.  NECWA was able to work with 2 Wareham Teachers this fall and winter as they participated in our Diamondback Terrapin Headstart program. One teacher, Lara Schofield, works at the high school and has previously participated in NECWA's head start program. The other teacher, Tanya Bungert, a middle school teacher, was new to the program this season.  Over the course of the school year, NECWA staff joined teachers and their students on numerous occasions, providing on-site guidance for caring and documenting the hatchlings. On two occasions , NECWA came into the High School to work with and present lessons on terrapins to the afterschool program run by teacher Lara Schofield. Working directly with students and their teachers is so important for these types of community  projects for it allows NECWA to see how successful our head start programs are.   NECWA would like to thank th
Read more