Outcry after Japan ends 44-year ban on humpback whale hunt

 

Last updated at 22:54pm on 17th November 2007 Comments (9)

Snared: Japan claims humpback populations are now 'recovering'

 

 

 

 

A fleet of Japanese ships is setting sail today with orders to hunt 50 humpback whales, ending a 44-year worldwide ban on killing the rare breed.

 

The whales had neared extinction before the ban was introduced but now Japan says it needs information for its "research" programme.

 

The fleet has orders to harpoon up to 50 humpbacks, 935 Antarctic minke whales and 50 fin whales, in its largest ever "scientific" whale hunt in the South Pacific, which will run until mid-April.

 

Meat from Japan's "scientific" catch - of around 1,000 whales every year - is sold commercially, as permitted by the International Whaling Commission, but Japanese officials deny that profit is a motive.

 

They also argue that whaling is a Japanese tradition and have fought unsuccessfully for the IWC to reverse its 1986 moratorium which prohibited all commercial whaling.

 

Reaching sizes of up to 50ft and 45 tons, humpback whales were hunted to near extinction four decades ago.

 

They have been off-limits since 1963, except for a small number under a subsistence whaling programme, which led to two being caught last year. The former Soviet Union also hunted humpbacks until 1973.

 

Tokyo's plans to renew hunting the humpback - a favourite among whalewatchers for its distinctive looks, intelligence and acrobatic displays - has triggered condemnation from environmentalists.

 

The species is listed as "vulnerable" by the World Conservation Union, but Japanese officials insist humpback populations are at a sustainable level.

 

Hideki Moronuki, whaling chief at the Japanese Fisheries Agency, said: "Humpback whales in our research area are rapidly recovering. Taking 50 humpbacks from a population of tens of thousands will have no significant impact whatsoever."

 

The hunt looks set to renew Japan's angry stand-off with anti-whaling activists, which it accuses of "environmental terrorism".

 

Greenpeace and the animal rights group Sea Shepherd have said they will track Japan's hunt in the South Pacific.

Whaling is a terrible thing, and that 'scientific' research is bogus...

sea shepard better sink those fuckwits. when will they undrestand that waling is no longer acceptable?!?!!?

 

i'm sick of the australian government being pussies and doing nothing while the japanese kill and murder these creatures, because they are afraid of the ramifications. i'm sure if the whales were being poached in US waters there would be no qualms in attacking the whale fleets

 

finally a good real news topic to discuss. thanks mark.

sea shepard better sink those fuckwits. when will they undrestand that waling is no longer acceptable?!?!!?

 

i'm sick of the australian government being pussies and doing nothing while the japanese kill and murder these creatures, because they are afraid of the ramifications. i'm sure if the whales were being poached in US waters there would be no qualms in attacking the whale fleets

 

finally a good real news topic to discuss. thanks mark.

 

No news topic is going to interest all people - not even this one.

But I happily acknowledge your gratitude on this occasion.;)

yeah, whaling is pretty big news here in australia. the governmenment are against it but never take any measures to stop it because they are a. fishing in australian waters (ILLEGAL) and b. fishing for whales (ILLEGAL)

 

i so hope something big happens the to stir up the pot so some action is taken to stop such heinous crimes against the environment

^Definitely.

My god! This is so terrible! "Humpback whales in our research area are rapidly recovering." Such a lie!