ILLEGAL WHALING

Illegal Whaling by Japan



Illegal Whaling by Japan

Introduction

The focus of the study is an environmental problem emerging due the whales hunting by Japan. This hunting has evolved into a rush, and the whale populations have been drastically declined. Japan has been supporting whaling for decades and maintained the rights for whaling. It has lobbied against the Commission of International Whaling (IWC) in an aggressive manner to defend the commercial whaling. This has resulted in a strong criticism against the Japan's stance of pro-whaling.The groups involved protecting the environment consider that Japan is a hinder to their efforts of protecting whales (Bimie, 1985, p.64-74, Tonnessen & Johnsen,1982).

The international groups and the Western governments doubt that the Japan's stance for whaling is inconsistent with the international position; it stands to cooperate for the other environmental problems. Because of pro-whaling Japan has been considered a key player in the environmental matters by its international stance. The country has brought international condemnation due to its pro-whaling policy such as the countries condemned for global warming and depletion of combat ozone (Bimie, 1985, p.64-74, Tonnessen & Johnsen,1982).

Several questions arise, regarding the environmental safety interests of Japan, such as if the country seriously desires to protect the environment why doesn't the country play a role for anti-whaling norm. The international regulations are required due to the uncontrolled whale hunting has heightened in the past years. This led to the embracing of the International regulation Convention for Whaling (ICRW), established the IWC (Bimie, 1985, p.64-74, Tonnessen & Johnsen,1982).

Scientific Whaling by Japan

There are two whaling programs operated by Japan in the name of Scientific Whaling, which are known as JARPA I, which is being operated in the Antarctic and JARPN II, which is being operated in North Pacific. The JARPA I program of lethal sampling, ended recently after 18 years, which was exclusively focused on minke whales of Antartic. Some findings related to this operation.

In season (1987 to 1988), the first operation took place that killed 273 of the Minke whales.

This number of killed Minke whales then increased by 440.

The program was based on the goals stated as;

Biological parameters (mortality rate) are estimated for improving the management.

Stock structures are elucidated for improving management.

In the ecosystem of Antarctic, role of whales are examined.

Environmental change effects on cetaceans are examined.

(Hirata,K., 2002).

In season (2004 to 2005), the operation killed 6800 of the Minke whales.

The meat of the killed whales was brought to the market in Japan.

In 1997, the scientific review carried out to examine the results of the program conducted by Japan in Antarctic (IWC, 1998), the Committee noted

The program result were not required for the purpose of management under RMP”.

The Committee recognized that the operation had collected data which was potentially useful for the purpose of improving the understanding about the stock structure.

The purpose was also to feed ecology and the biological parameters.

Much of the fact was not addressed by the committee because the report of this operation could not be obtained without non-lethal techniques, but some ...