Choppy conditions rock Japanese whaling
Fri 21 October 2011
Marie Madden, Graduate Certificate in Communication
A declining demand for whale meat in Japan, and the constant harassment by environmentalists, could bring the floundering Japanese whaling industry to a grinding halt.
Japan’s whaling fleet suspended its whaling season in the Antarctic waters in February, 2011, because of the persistent obstruction of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS).
SSCS vessel Bob Barker tailed the Japanese Nisshin Maru factory ship, making it impossible for the crew to continue its illegal whaling operations.
Under an International Whaling Commission (IWC) treaty, Japan is allowed to slaughter approximately 1000 whales each season for scientific re
search purposes.
However, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Japanese whaling fleet headed home with a catch of only 172 whales this year.
Despite the modest yield, an Iruka and Kujira (Dolphin and Whale) Action Network (IKAN) report estimated that Japanese Government whale meat stocks could have already been in excess of 6000 tonnes in 2010.
The decline in whale meat sales in recent years could be attributed to both local support for the conservation of whales and the fact that fewer Japanese now enjoy eating whale meat.
However, the Japan Fisheries Agency insisted that the decline in meat sales was due to the decrease in the whaling fleet’s annual yield, especially this year.
In August, 2011, the War Against Whaling (WAW) organisation reported that annual Japanese scientific whaling costs spiral to $A35 million.
Unless the Japanese government provides immediate financial assistance to the whaling research program, the Institute for Cetacean Research (ICR) could face bankruptcy very soon.
Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said the Japanese whaling industry had "... not made a profit in over five years" and it was “... $A200 million in debt in subsidy loans to the Japanese government”.
Australian Marine Conservation Society director Darren Kindleysides reported to ABC News that "the whaling expedition is costing Japan more money each year and so it’s actually quite unpopular and increasingly unpopular within the government".
Japanese-born Mitsuki Scott, 27, who moved to Australia five years ago, said that whale meat played a very small part in her diet when she was growing up in Japan.
“My mother used to cook it for the family when I was very young because it was a low-priced meat and high in protein but I don’t remember the taste,” Mrs Scott said.
“It was a very popular replacement for beef and pork."
Mrs Scott said that for some time after World War II, whale meat was the only high-protein food available in Japan.
“My parents didn’t really like it because it didn’t taste very nice but there was no other option,” Mrs Scott said.
“People can now afford to eat other meats that they enjoy.”
Mrs Scott said that eating whale meat had been a Japanese tradition for many years for a small minority of people living near the coastline because of its availability.
“We never took whaling as an issue when we were growing up because there were so many other different things that were happening in Japan ... we have so many different cultures and traditions,” Mrs Scott said.
“It was not exposed in the media like it is in Australia.
“I don’t know what other people think about what’s happened with Sea Shepherd now, but the good part of it is that it has made us think about whaling.
"Keeping old traditions and cultures is not necessarily the best thing.
"Sometimes you have to give up some traditions.
“It’s time to review."
Japan is also under pressure from the International Whaling Commissions (IWC), which endorses non-lethal science research in place of whale slaughter.
The development of IWC conservation management plans and legal action initiated by Australia against Japan’s method of “scientific” whale research in the International Court of Justice in May, 2010, will require Japan to reconsider its current whaling pursuits.
The gradual decline in the number of humpback whales being hunted in Antarctic waters resulted in a record number of sightings of the mighty sea mammal off the east coast of Australia in 2011, which was a real boost for the tourist industry.
Whale One Cruises owner and skipper Shane Matterson said that whale watchers on the Sunshine Coast, Australia were being treated to an unprecedented number of “up close and personal” encounters with the whales in the 2011 season.
“Observations made by the Cape Solander whale-watching organisation, south of Sydney, Australia are projecting a 10 per cent increase in whales each year,” Mr Matterson said.
“Some of the observers suggest that there is currently between 10,000 and 14,000 whales.
“If the Japanese want to take about 1000 whales a year, all up, that would deplete their numbers very quickly.”
Mr Matterson said that he developed his passion for the conservation of whales while working for the late great owner of the Australia Zoo, Steve Irwin.
“It’s great to see that passion in, not only international tourists but also many locals, who now take advantage of our whale-watching cruises,” Mr Matterson said.
“Constant media attention has encouraged local people to fall in love with whales and they want to conserve them for their children’s children.”
SSCS vows to continue its fight for the conservation of whales until illegal whale hunting stops.
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