Whaling Industry in Japan - Essay Example

There is no market for whale meat in Japan, thus when the whales are slaughtered there is a significant volume of waste, which essentially makes whaling appear to other cultures (outside of Japan) to be an absolute misuse of natural resources. Despite external protest, Japanese hunters are using the argument that small volumes of fish in the local waters can be blamed on the eating habits of whales, thus they are a costly pest to Japanese fishermen and must be eliminated. It would appear that the Japanese will concoct virtually any rationale for continuing the slaughter, largely just to fit social perceptions about heritage and traditional ocean activities.

            Additionally, if Australian officials are concerned that Japanese whaling activities are undercutting the commercial opportunities for Australia, the question as to whether heritage can be utilized as a valid argument is created. Should an entire culture be able to justify eroding the economic stability of a neighboring nation simply to satisfy rigid social perceptions about honoring cultural tradition? Whales are very much a natural resource, however, due to the gestation rate, it takes many years to repopulate the species variety as whales only have one offspring at a time. Thus, when countless hundreds of whales are slaughtered, it is likely another hundred years before whale populations return to their previous levels. Hence, it is no wonder why external nations have chastised Japan for upholding their stern commitment to whaling as a cultural phenomenon.