The detention of anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson in Greenland, pending possible extradition to Japan, has brought attention to the controversial practice of hunting whales. After centuries of hunting that nearly wiped out the whale population, a moratorium on commercial whaling was implemented in 1986, allowing numbers to recover. However, three countries still permit whaling: Japan, Norway, and Iceland.
Apart from the moral arguments against whaling made by campaigners like Watson, there is also a scientific debate surrounding the practice. In 2019, Japan withdrew from the International Whaling Commission moratorium and resumed commercial whaling within its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. Prior to this decision, Japan had been conducting “scientific research” whaling since 1987 under the claim that certain data could only be obtained from dead carcasses.
However, experts have criticized this justification for scientific whaling. Paul Rodhouse from the Marine Biological Association in Britain stated that there is little evidence to support this claim and few worthwhile scientific studies have been conducted through these practices. A study published in Marine Policy in 2016 found that both whaling and non-whaling countries produced similar numbers of scientific papers on whales between 1986 and 2013.
Furthermore, non-invasive research methods using advanced technology are being employed to study living whales. These methods include satellite transmitters attached to whales, passive acoustic devices on submarines, satellite imagery analysis, and artificial intelligence.
While overall success has been achieved with regards to whale population recovery due to the moratorium on commercial whaling since 1986; regional variations and differences between species still exist. Japan hunts Bryde’s whales minke whales sei whales but aims to expand its list by including fin whales as well. The Japanese government argues that these species are abundant around their waters and catching them in limited numbers is sustainable.
However,”endangered” status applies globally for sei whales while fin whales are listed as “vulnerable”. Additionally hunting isn’t their only threat; ship collisions entanglements with fishing nets rising ocean temperatures pose significant risks too.
Whales play a crucial role within ecosystems by contributing nutrients such as mineral salts and iron through their excretions at the surface layers where they breathe.This provides a food source for surface-dwelling marine organisms which rely on these elements for survival.Conserving biodiversity involves maintaining balanced ecosystems not just saving charismatic macrofauna accordingto Rodhouse
In May,a new ”mother ship” called Kangei Maru was launched by Japan’swhale fleet replacing its previous lead vessel.The large dimensions of this ship raise concerns among scientists due it can travel long distances which implies high operating costs.Vincent Ridoux,a marine megafauna researcher at La Rochelle university expressed his worries stating,”If you want use a boat like this commercially,you need big quotas balance operating costs there has be market.”
Japan argues eating whale meat is part of their cultureand an issue relatedto food security giventhe country’s limited resources.However,the demand for whale meat withinJapan remains uncertain.Consumption has significantly declined over recent decades,to around1-2 thousand tonnes per year comparedto approximately200 times more duringthe1960s.