Is this the move that safeguards the prosperity of the great whales, or is it the death nail in the coffin for these giant, intelligent creatures. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) seem to think it’s the right answer, but international conservation groups fear that it will be the green light for Japan, Iceland and Norway’s whaling ships and their shockingly horrific ballistic harpoons.
The International Whaling Commission’s moratorium has banned commercial whaling for the last 28 years, but it could soon come to an end with its new plan that aims to bring scientific whaling under its jurisdiction, reduce catches from current levels, establish caps on whale kills over a 10-year period, and improve the animal welfare of whaling.
Shock backing for the new plans comes from the US, who have previously been staunchly apposed to any compromise on the whaling moratorium. On the face of it, this could be seen as evidence for the credibility of the proposals. However, the fact that they were embarrassed by Japan blocking the indigenous Inuit people of Alaska’s whaling quotas in 2002 could be the real reason for their sudden change of stance.
Perhaps the critical factor in the decision to rethink the moratorium is the fact that Japan have continued to catch and kill great whales, ignoring the moratorium, by categorising their activity as scientific research. While no one is fooled by this, it has been enough to keep the battle going between pro and anti whaling factions. However, what surprises me is that a proposal to clamp down on the stubborn minority is not being put forward, instead of a compromise that will continue to see whale populations suffering. The thing that we seem to forget about is that the life of the world’s oceans cannot be farmed and managed in the same way that pigs, cattle and poultry can be reared. That’s why strong and persistent regulations are critical to the ongoing longevity of sea life.
