Japanese Whaling Fleet Returns Victorious with 223 Whales
This month, the Japanese whaling ship returned triumphantly from its first commercial three-month hunt. It had almost caught a full quota, 223 whales, which amounted to 1,430 tonnes of frozen meat that costs $140 per kilogram to purchase. The Japanese government, encouraged by its success, wants to spend an additional $48 million in order to continue the hunt even though whale meat isn’t as popular.
The ban on commercial whale-hunting is a gentleman’s agreement.
Japan announced on July 1st that it would resume whaling after 31 years. Worldwide outrage was caused by the announcement of Japan’s decision to resume whaling on July 1, 2019. Most people believed that it had become illegal. The so-called moratorium, however, was nothing more than a gentleman’s agreement or a trade deal that any country can withdraw from if it follows the withdrawal procedures under the Convention.
Why did Japan do it? They never stopped, and they used the loophole all countries have to catch whales for “scientific reasons”. Japan also caught more Minke whales than allowed for many years. They tried to convince other countries to support their proposal to “small type commercial whaling”, using small whaling vessels in territorial waters. They decided to hunt in their waters when this did not happen.
Any member of the Convention may opt out.
The Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, signed in 1946 by the major whaler nations in recognition of the imminent threat of extinction of whales was not done for the benefit of the animals but to ” ensure the conservation of whale stock and allow for the development of the industry in the near future.
The International Whaling Commission was established under the Convention. Its members meet every other year to discuss various policy issues, including which species may be hunted and how many. The IWC is open to any country, regardless of whether it wants to hunt whales. Each member also has voting rights.
Right to withdraw
Article XI allows any member government to withdraw from an agreement by giving notice before the 30th. By giving notice by the 1st of June in any given year. The same year, January. It is not morally right, but it’s legal. It was feared that other countries might follow Japan and withdraw, but this doesn’t appear to be the case at present.
Many countries receive an exemption for “aboriginals” to hunt small whales. However, many now want to increase the hunting in order to sell their by-products. Japan, Norway, Iceland and Denmark are among the countries that hunt whales.
It would be foolish for anyone to think that the future of whales on the planet is 100% secure.