The Controversy on Japanese Scientific Whaling - Coursework Example

The Controversy on Japanese Scientific Whaling Student Number 335880609 14/11/08 Contents Page Contents Page 1 Introduction 2 History of Whaling 2 Japanese Whaling 3 The Raging Debate and Controversy 4 A Bane on Whale Population (1/2) 5 A Bane on Whale Population (2/2) 6 Method of Whale Killing 7 The Economic Perspective 7 Future Management and Conservation of Whales 8 Conclusion/ Recommendations 8 Reference (1/3) 9 Reference (2/3) 10 Reference (3/3) 11 Introduction Most whale species have been classified as endangered since the mid 20th century because of the alarmingly rapid reduction of their population. In response to this ecological danger, the International Whaling Commission (IWC), set up by the United Nations International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRWM) and founded by its 14 original member countries in 1946, has put in place a worldwide moratorium on commercial whaling since 1985 (Australian Antarctic Data Centre 2005, page 2). This qualification of whaling gave birth to the loophole that led to the concomitant subject of this report. To date, Japanese-owned companies continue to hound whales and slaughter them for “scientific research,” which is given special permits for continued whaling under the ICW. The Japanese position asserts that some species are still sufficiently numbered to bear the brunt of hunting (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, 2008). The objective of this paper is to look into the history and practice of whaling in the 21st century, in particular the continued Japanese hunting of whales under the legal permit of scientific research. It also aims to provide an overview of the ongoing raging debate and controversy about Japan’s scientific whaling by presenting perspectives from pro and anti-whaling supporters. History of Whaling According to the HMS Endurance Tracking Project official website (2006), whaling began in Antarctica in 1904. But millenniums even before it was practiced, mankind has already had a relationship with whales. Rock carvings in South Korea dating back to 6000 BC (HMS Endurance Project, 2006) are the oldest records of whale hunts made by prehistoric men. Chronologically, whaling can be classified into six main periods, some of which overlap:  (1400-1700): North Atlantic by Europeans.(HMS Endurance Project, 2006) (1600 – 1900): North between Spitzbergen and Greenland. (HMS Endurance Project, 2006) (1800 - Present): The Pacific by American whalers. When “fast fishing” techniques were researched in the 18th Century, they began to exploit sperm whale oil around the world. (HMS Endurance Project, 2006) (1880 - Present): The explosive harpoon was used for the first time and species were hunted in all oceans by American, British, Japanese, Icelandic and Norwegian whalers amongst others. HMS Endurance Project (2006) writes that massive “factory ships” that served to carry out whale meat processing even while hunters are at sea made it possible to stay in the waters for long periods of time. Whale population fell by 80-90% across major species. By 1946, the newly-founded United Nations passed the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling its members agreed that the destruction of the whale population simply cannot continue. In 1986, a general moratorium of commercial whaling was implemented. (HMS Endurance Project, 2006) The trend of exploitation changed over the years – whalers shifted focus from one species to another, hunting the largest and slowest whale species first, demolishing one after another until the whale population was cut down dramatically. (HMS Endurance Project, 2006) Japanese Whaling Although whale meat has little commercial value today, it is still considered a delicacy, particularly in Japan. In fact, the oldest written Japanese record of whaling is from Kojiki (The Japan Times Online, 2008) the oldest extant Japanese book, which was written in the eighth century. The Kojiki chronicles how whale meat was a staple ingredient in the Japanese diet, and was eaten by Emperor Jimmu. In Man'yōshū, the word "Whaling" was frequently used in depicting the ocean or beaches (Facts About Japan Online, History of Japanese Whaling). The 17th century witnessed striking improvement in Japanese traditional whaling technique. In Taiji, Wakayama, the group hunting system was born and also became the birthing place of the new handheld harpoon in 1606 (Facts About Japan Online, History of Japanese Whaling). Wada Kakuemon, later known as Taiji Kakuemon, invented the whaling net technique called Amitori hou and increased the safety and efficiency of whaling. (Facts About Japan Online, History of Japanese Whaling) For the Japanese, whales were rich sources of food, oil, and other handy materials. A famous Japanese proverb quotes: "There's nothing to throw away from a whale except its voice." (Firestone, 2007) Following the devastation of World War II, food was scarce for Japanese folk. As a result, whales, being cheap and large sources of protein, became an even larger part of the Japanese post-war diet. In fact, Japan's whale consumption peaked in 1962 at 226,000 tons annually (New York Times Online, 2007). From then, it declined gradually and fell to 15,000 tons in 1985, the year before the commercial whaling ban (New York Times Online, 2007). Amidst pressure from partners and stalwart environmental groups, five large Japanese fishing companies transferred their whaling fleet shares to public interest corporations in 2006 (Environmental Investigation Agency Report, 2007). In 2007, Kokuyo and Maruha, two of Japan's four larges fishing companies, decided to end their sales of whale meat (Environmental Investigation Agency Report, 2007). Since 1985, however, Japan has remained determined to push for the lifting of the ban and consistently voiced out its interest in resumption of commercial whaling, but has not yielded any results to this day. But it still achieved a measure of success. After stopping its commercial whaling operations, Japan started what it deems "scientific research on whales" to provide a basis for the resumption of sustainable whaling. The stated purpose of the research program is to establish the size and dynamics of whale populations. The Japanese government wants to recommence whaling in a continuous arrangement under the oversight of the IWC (57th Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission, Chair’s Report, page 11). The number of whales killed under the project has risen steadily, from less than 200 in 1985 to almost 1,000 by 2007 (World Wildlife Fund, 2006). The Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR), a privately-owned, non-profit institution, conducts the research. It gets its financing from government subsidies and Kyodo Senpaku, a whale meat processing and marketing company (Greenpeace International, 2005). Japan conducts its scientific whale research in two bodies of water: the North-West Pacific Ocean (JARPN II) and the Antarctic Ocean (JARPA) Southern Hemisphere catch (World Wildlife Fund, 2005). The 2007- 2008 JARPA mission had a quota of 850 minke whales and 50 fin whales (Institute of Cetacean Research, 2008). "Major discoveries" claimed by JARPA 1 include: (1) Learning that the population structure of minke whales in the Antarctic is healthy; (2) Discovering changes in the ecosystem of the Antarctic Ocean; (3) Finding "very low level" of contaminants in minke whales (International Whaling Commission, Resolution on JARPA I, 2007). The Raging Debate and Controversy Anti-whaling countries and environmental groups have strongly and very vocally opposed Japan's scientific whaling research program. Greenpeace, a worldwide environmental foundation, argues that whales are endangered and must be protected (Greenpeace United Kingdom, 2001). The Japanese government, on the other hand, has consistently stood by its counter position that certain whale species are sufficiently numbered to bear a regular but controlled hunt. The latest IWC estimate for Antarctic waters using CNB currently under review is 665,074 based on Southern Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research Programme (SOWER) data (International Whaling Commission, Scientific Committee Document Titles, 2008). Japan’s research methodology and techniques have also come under fire in the international media. It has been argued that non-lethal methods of research are available and that Japan's research whaling is commercial whaling in disguise. The Japanese counter this by saying that the accuracy of tissue and feces samples is insufficient and lethal sampling is necessary (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan 2008). Sea Shepherd contests that Japan, as well as Iceland and Norway, is in violation of the IWC moratorium on all commercial whaling. The environmental group is stalwart in its conviction that Japan's research program is actually a commercial program in disguise. Japan categorically denies this allegation, stating that their primary goal is the sustainable use of all marine resources and that the lethal methods used are permitted under article VIII of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan 2008). The most vocal opponents of the Japanese push for a resumption of commercial whaling are Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, whose stated purpose for opposing whaling is the need for conservation of endangered species. They have consistently and openly criticised Japan for its lethal whaling operations. While scientific permit or research whaling is allowed under IWC rules, they believe that the convention never anticipated research on such a large scale (HMS Endurance Project, 2006). In addition, Japan does not recognise the Southern Ocean Sanctuary having raised an objection to its creation, as it is legally entitled to do under the terms of the IWC's parent treaty (HMS Endurance Project, 2006). A Ban on Whale Population Some species of whale, like the Minke whales, have never been considered endangered and other species are showing signs of recovery (Institute of Cetacean Research, 2008). It is these species of whales that whalers wish to hunt, believing that with modern techniques a hunt of these species could be sustained without damage to ecosystem and the whale’s position at the top of the food chain. On the contrary, the deeds of the past show the falsity of this claim. The past mismanagement of whale stocks has dramatically reduced the overall whale population. It is therefore illogical to argue that just because a species is not yet endangered, that because it is still sufficiently numbered, a regular hunt of them is justified. Furthermore, statistics show that most whale species are already endangered, while nearly the rest are fragile. Extinct Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Lower Risk (Conservation Dependent) Lower Risk (Near Threatened) Lower Risk (Least Concern) None Gray Whale Northwest Pacific population (cf. Northeast Pacific population) Blue Whale (ANTARCTIC)[ Fin Whale North Pacific Right Whale North Atlantic Right Whale Sei Whale Beluga Blue Whale musculus subspecies - Atlantic population Sperm Whale Antarctic Minke Whale Arnoux's Beaked Whale Baird's Beaked Whale Blue Whale(North Pacific)[ Bowhead Whale Gray Whale Northeast Pacific population Northern Bottlenose Whale Southern Bottlenose Whale Short-finned Pilot Whale Southern Right Whale Minke Whale Dwarf Sperm Whale Pygmy Right Whale Long-finned Pilot Whale Humpback Whale Pygmy Sperm Whale Melon-headed Whale Gray Whale (species) Source: 2008 IUCN Red List of Endangered Species http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41711 Method of Killing Whales are killed at sea often using harpoons. These exploding devices pierce the skin of a whale and then blow up inside its body. Japanese whalers say that allowing whales to roam freely before giving it a quick death with the least possible pain by explosive harpoon is less cruel than the long-term suffering of battery farmed animals, such as sheep, also used to provide food. The farming of whales in captivity has never been attempted and would almost certainly be impossible. However whales are killed using explosive harpoons (Institute of Cetacean Research, 2008). This is cruel as a whale can take a number of minutes to die. The Australian Government has released evidence challenging Japan's claims that its hunt is the most efficient and humane possible. The images show "scientific research" that needed multiple rifle shots to finish off the mammal (Evidence challenges Japan's 'humane' whale killing). The Economic Perspective Whales are the largest animals in the world. Consequently, meat derived from a single whale provides more food for people than with any other flock of animal species. This, among others, is one of the argument foundations of pro-whalers who rally for the continuation of whaling. Pro-whalers further contend that whaling as an industry provides not only a rich food resource, but employment as well. It gives economic support to fisheries, restaurants, and other related businesses. (HMS Endurance Project, 2006) On the other hand, whales that are kept alive instead of being killed also generate economic benefits to men. For instance, whale watching industries all over the world have collectively grown into a billion-dollar business. Anti-whaling advocates further explain that “friendly” whales, those which come up the surface to see boats of whale watchers, are those that are caught and killed by hunters. They deem this as an economic net loss to hotels, restaurants, and other business establishments that benefit from the whale watching industry. (International Fund for Animal Welfare, 2001). Countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa have affirmed that whale watching provides more revenue than commercial whaling. Peru, Uruguay, Australia, and New Zealand have also supported calls for the permanent ban on whaling on the South of Equator. (International Fund for Animal Welfare, 2001). Future Management & Conservation of Whales The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation recently found that 35 percent of 200 major fisheries are over fished and 25 per cent are fishing to their limit (HMS Endurance Tracking Project). There is no conclusive evidence showing whales are impacting on fishery yields. Most whale populations are today a small fraction of their pre-exploitation levels, due to unregulated whaling over the past 200 years (HMS Endurance Project, 2006) Furthermore, HMS Endurance Tracking Project’s official website writes: “The argument that these comparatively small whale populations could impact on today’s fish resources can be dismissed. There are far more effective way to increase world fish stocks than by killing whales, such as by ensuring that fishing levels are sustainable, increasing age at first capture, increasing net mesh sizes and restricting access to areas important to young fish… An effective method to give further protection to the whales is the creation of sanctuaries - areas where whaling is forbidden not just temporarily, but for the indefinite future and the benign study and conservation of whales is encouraged.” The Southern Ocean Sanctuary (SOS), established in 1994 by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) encompasses all waters surrounding Antarctica and protects three-quarters of the world's whales in their feeding grounds. (HMS Endurance Project 2006) Conclusion / Recommendations The morality of whaling depends on the cultural perspective of the pro and anti-whalers. The Japanese have argued that their custom of consuming whale meat has existed for thousands of years. Consequently, the international community would be hard-pressed to convince them such practice is unethical, in the same manner that the Western world would find it unthinkable to cease consuming cows because they are to be revered, the way Indians do. In view of the foregoing, the recommendations for future courses of action about this issue be based on the weight of advantages and disadvantages of both ends. The conclusion is based on facts; mankind would benefit more by keeping whales alive than killing them. Most whales are endangered, and those that are not would definitely not benefit by being hunted down for “research purposes.” The ecological imbalance that would result from possible extinction is unthinkable. 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