Japan to pull out of IWC to resume commercial whaling

well it probably wont come to that if Japan keep its word and only fish in and around its own EEZ as other whaling nations currently do.

So, if Japan keeps whaling exactly where they currently do there won't be a problem? Great.

The act of detaining foreign-flagged vessels in international water could be considered an act of piracy, or war.

well it probably wont come to that if Japan keep its word and only fish in and around its own EEZ as other whaling nations currently do.

M3M3M3 - If Australia were to withdraw from the Antarctic Treaty, it would be free to assert its claim to the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone off its Antarctic coast. It could detain any vessel fishing within its EEZ. This would significantly cripple Japanese whaling.

While Australia could certainly try to assert it's personal claim to international water, there are still 190 other nations who still refuse to accept Australia's claim. The act of detaining foreign-flagged vessels in international water could be considered an act of piracy, or war.

Time to flood the bookstores with all the benefits of conserving whales!

Yeah, good luck with that! Japan has a knack for keeping relevant information out of the public sector.

Enough already Japan!

Nobody wants whale meat anymore and no one wants to see you kill off another species!

Why do you insist on being ignorant and selfish?

You cannot carrying out fishing or hunting to extinction because you will be left with nothing, in addition to the ecological damage.

Activities like fishing should be controlled by an independent team of scientists to ensure this does not happen.

Exploitation causing extinction of species should be criminalized and prosecuted.

My guess is that as the frozen meat reaches its ‘use by’ date, they throw it out

If they thought they couldn’t on sell it before the used by date, they wouldn’t pay good money to keep it sitting in storage, instead of una or some other sea food.

Thats what common sense would say, but it frequently fails to be applied when whale is concerned for some reason. Whales make people go a little bananas :)

Wtfjapan. .

vast majority of whale products sold in Japan are Dolphin

Hmmm really, so the next headline could read :

" school children are Dolphin eaters"

How would that go down in the World of Public Opinion ?

and the world oceans haven't got any cleaner since then , probably the opposite.

Apparently, at least as regards mercury, the world's oceans have gotten cleaner since then, not the opposite.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/fish-fight-scientists-battle-over-the-true-harm-of-mercury-in-tuna/2017/03/04/2210fe74-f2d4-11e6-8d72-263470bf0401_story.html?utm_term=.e4c0b6d5f92c

"showing that closing coal-fired plants that belch pollution reduces mercury in the environment and the ocean food chain.”

Jeez, mate, google it. Here's proof from about a two-second search.

> https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/04/japan-whaling-industry-dead-water

> Says there's about 6000 tonnes sitting in warehouses.

And if you do more than look at one entry you will find that over more than a decade there are reports from multiple years that all give similar amounts of whale meat in warehouses. Since they are catching whales every year, if the amount in warehouses stays similar over many years it would indicate that throughout the year people buy the whale and the level in warehouses drops, then when the fleet returns from the hunt the amount in storage is replenished.

you whale lovers can believe what ever makes you feel comfortable, of all the meats sold in Japan whale and dolphin have the highest concntration of heavy metals,

And you can believe whatever makes you feel superior, but you have provided zero facts to back up your claim and the proof you said supported you actually said baleen meat, except for one sample, is below the limit.

but dont make it out that whale meat if healthy or even safe compared fish chicken or beef

Don't remember a single person make any such claims. And lots of things people eat/drink/smoke aren't healthy. Yet many people decide the harm/risk is acceptable.

you whale lovers can believe what ever makes you feel comfortable, of all the meats sold in Japan whale and dolphin have the highest concntration of heavy metals, people that consistant eat it have a higher risk of developing side effects from that consumption. vast majority of whale products sold in Japan is dolphin , toothed whale species, Japan labeling laws dont require the exact species or area where its caught, so even if southern whales where majically free of toxins youll never know if your buying it or not. so go ahead chow down on that tripe but dont make it out that whale meat if healthy or even safe compared fish chicken or beef

most of which are farmed and have their feed regulated for saftey, majority of fish species dont have high levels of mercury becuase they dont live long enough to have it accumulate in their bodies, whales and dolphins do as their long life spans and huge consumption of fish.

It would be interesting for JapanToday to look into this Japanese phenomena for "whale research". What is the real rhetoric and why show so much deference to the world ? The whales are going to extinct anyway like the polar bears, the penguins, the coral reefs and the plankton. I sure hope that they tape all hunts on HD so that their grand-children can enjoy the "research" with virtual reality goggles.

First whales are in the freezers because no one wants to eat it; then it’s in the freezers because it needs to be to back up some lies?

How about this?

Maybe there are no lies (except for the ones about whales being either all endangered or all toxic), and it’s in the freezers for the same reason that tuna is?

the vested interests on the other side who'd have us believe their is a big market for whale meat

Why do you think any one interested in commercial activity would care about what you think in the first place? I imagine they will simply go about their business irrespective of what you wish to believe. The extent of the whale market is what’ll bring home their bacon, not the extent to which those against it accept that a market of some size exists.

... says animal welfare group

Lol

Guardian says there’s 6000 tonnes of something in warehouses, rather than at the dump?

Proves my point nicely thank you.

We have done this before by the way. There is more frozen tuna etc in warehouses than there is whale.

 hundreds of tons of unsold frozen whale meat have been sitting in Japanese warehouses for years.

Proof?

There is not enough demand

On the contrary, a product for which there is no demand would certainly not be stocked in warehouses.

Think about that - you know it is true. That’s what a warehouse is for - storing stock - inventory, not some old garbage. Garbage goes to the trash, the dump.

the whale meat is just not that great

Oh come on, it’s pretty good.

Lots of variety too. In the alcohol section of a supermarket that I will leave unnamed, they stocked two different types of whale jerky, I noticed the other day. I’d have bought some were it a little cheaper.

actually it does if you read the paper

But you provide a link to an article not a paper. So my statement that it doesn't prove anything about ALL whale products in Japan is true.

If you think Prof Ando research is flawed then you may want to contact him and remind him of those flaws.

I said nothing at all about Prof Ando's research. I was responding to the link that YOU provided to an article in what seemed to be an attempt to support your claim, which the article does NOT do.

But I assume you mean this research paper, as it also specifically mentions 137 samples.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es034055n

Have you actually read it, as you suggest I so?

"On the other hand, T-Hg concentrations in all mystecete red meat samples except for one (0.01−0.54 μg/wet g, n = 62) were below the permitted level of T-Hg, probably reflecting their lower trophic levels."

So the article doesn't support "scientifically proven that ALL whale products sold in Japan have high levels of mercury." And the actual paper contradicts "scientifically proven that ALL whale products sold in Japan have high levels of mercury."

Point is you never really know what type of whale or dolphin meat is being sold and the chance is high that it isnt southern ocean whales.

That may well be true. But if that was the point, then why wasn't it said in the original comment? Why did it take so long for the point to even be mentioned?

It also clearly doesn't prove anything about ALL whale products sold in Japan.

actually it does if you read the paper by Prof Ando from the Uni of Hokkaido, found all 137 meat samples of whale and dolphin samples test exceeded the J governments saftey limits, This research was done in 2000~2002 and the world oceans haven't got any cleaner since then , probably the opposite. So it's fair to say that if the same samples were taken today itll probably give similar results. Point is you never really know what type of whale or dolphin meat is being sold and the chance is high that it isnt southern ocean whales. Now the J government has said they plan to hunt only in their own waters the risk of purchase tainted meat will increase even further. SO for all the recalcitrant whale eaters go right ahead chow down on that blubber, my family and I including by dog will stick with the safer healthier cheaper alternatives. bon appetit.

If you think Prof Ando research is flawed then you may want to contact him and remind him of those flaws.

scientifically proven that ALL whale products sold in Japan have high levels of mercury. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/05/030520082803.htm

"found that every single slice of toothed whale red meat"

Minke whales are baleen whales not toothed whales. So your linked article has nothing to do with Minke whales. It also clearly doesn't prove anything about ALL whale products sold in Japan.

Also, for a 'science' article, it has a lot of wrong information.

" largely in response to a 1982 International Whaling Commission moratorium on commercial whaling"

The moratorium started in 1986.

"Toothed whales, or odontocetes, are not covered under the moratorium."

All whales are covered under the moratorium, both toothed and baleen. What isn't covered are dolphins and porpoises.

there are far too many people in the world who think ocean conservation doesnt apply to them and the oceans resorces are there for the taking

If resources aren't used then they aren't resources.

"resource - a stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively."

Conservation and saving is a good thing but not an end in itself. You conserve and saving things so you will have them available to USE in the future

whales spend less than 6 month of the year in Antartica the rest of the time there feeding in the northern oceans

No. Antarctic Minke whales do not usually travel to the northern oceans. And generally they feed around Antarctica, where food is abundant, to sustain themselves when they do travel closer to the equator.

The purpose of the IWC is to help the whaling business, not Greenpeace. Countries that have no stake in the whaling industry should not belong.

The minke species is not endangered; it is officially graded as "of least concern" in regard to species survival: the same rating as the Norwegian rat, the common cockroach and Homo sapiens.

The threats to the environment are real and deserve our full attention. By mixing boutique issues that are easily shown to be false yet are favored over more complex and serious issues by wealthy and unthreatened dillitantes, Greenpeace risks putting in doubt the reality of the crisis that our planet is facing.

The reality is nobody cares about the whales. The anti whaling countries talk the talk, but that's it. No country is going to risk having a diplomatic dispute with Japan over whales and sanctions against Japan would never happen.

Perhaps a shortage of some kinds of fish is being anticipated and the government wants people to get used to eating whale instead? oh because Japan has overfished these species they want to move onto the next, which brings us back to ocean conservation, something that Japan fails miserably at and organisations like the IWC is trying to protect, oh forgot Japan is leaving now. LOL

what opponents say about even whales that feed in the pristine Antarctic oceans

whales spend less than 6 month of the year in Antartica the rest of the time there feeding in the northern oceans, scientifically proven that ALL whale products sold in Japan have high levels of mercury.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/05/030520082803.htm

mercury laden goodness, yummy

There are far too many people in the world trying to impose their own beliefs and ideas on others.

there are far too many people in the world who think ocean conservation doesnt apply to them and the oceans resorces are there for the taking, damn the consequences , there fixed it for you.

It makes me wonder, for what reason?

Every year it seems we hear of the ocean temperature warming resulting in catches decreasing of this or that fish. Perhaps a shortage of some kinds of fish is being anticipated and the government wants people to get used to eating whale instead?

If it becomes officially commercial, it means it's a viable business that should be able to support itself.

Because governments NEVER subsidize businesses.

in Australian territorial waters

The map you link to is wrong. Under the AAT, Australia only has a claim to the waters within 12 nm of their Antarctic claims, not 200 nm.

I expect the public flogging of Japan in the court of public opinion to be a lasting one and that's a real pity.

First as the article makes clear (despite what the headline says), Japan has NOT said they will withdraw. Second Japan already gets flogged by the court of public opinion, so nothing will change.

"Resume" implies a moratorium which Japan has never followed.

"Moratorium" implies temporary which the IWC has never followed.

illegal fishing only a few weeks ago, now this - you cant make this stuff up the double standards.

Their whaling isn't illegal.

Then all those years of 'research whaling' in the Antarctic to prove that stocks had recovered were for what reason?

Well for the reason you gave, to prove that stocks had recovered. The fact that the IWC refuses to scientifically review the data isn't Japan's fault.

Well I hope the Australian Government balls up to defend what will then be illegal poaching of whales in the Arctic waters!

First it is Antarctic waters. Second it isn't illegal poaching.

Now, they will be poachers in the southern ocean whale sanctuary, which they chose to ignore.

No they won't. The IWC rules only apply to IWC members. Just like Canada's hunting of whales isn't illegal poaching, if Japan leaves the IWC their whaling won't be illegal poaching either.

If Australia were to withdraw from the Antarctic Treaty, it would be free to assert its claim to the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone off its Antarctic coast. It could detain any vessel fishing within its EEZ. This would significantly cripple Japanese whaling.

I wish they would.

Whales have super high levels of heavy metals.

= what opponents say about even whales that feed in the pristine Antarctic oceans, since it became known to all that some species are by no means endangered.

headline is inaccurate....

About time too! Japan should ignore the opposers and go their own way. There are far too many people in the world trying to impose their own beliefs and ideas on others.

Looking forward to some more fried, steaked whale, at lower prices!

why would you want to eat overpriced blubber , scientifically proven to have high levels or mercury. I wouldnt feed that tripe to my dog, sorry for insulting tripe. Far healthier cheaper meats available.

Whales don’t recognize international waters, don’t you know.

yep neither does Japan

@David Varnes

Exactly! Read your last statement posted. You said yourself how many whales Japan kills each year 1/6 of all the whales. Who kills the rest? Your talking about thousands of whales being killed compared to Japan low quote each year of a few hundred. Enjoy.

For the first time, Japan made a sovereign decision.

Yes, Japan did. And as long as whaling by Japan stays within it's own sovereign waters then I would say fair enough.

But if Japan starts hunting outside it's territorial waters, seize the ship and arrest the crew.

Oh! and of course, hold them for 23 days, no access to lawyers, no bail, assume them guilty, interrogate them until they confess to wrongdoing, and while incarcarated no heating.

Then we can really watch Japan whinge.

Your only focus is on Japan which kills the least amount of whales and they even have low quota each year, while neighboring countries kill 5x more whales than Japan.

Lies, lies, and more lies. There is no other Asian country that kills more whales than Japan. Korea kills roughly 1/50th the amount of Japan, while Russia in total kills 1/5th. Indonesia kills 3 TOTAL.

The simple fact is that Japan accounts for somewhere between 1/6 and 1/3 of the yearly annual whale kills worldwide. While supposedly doing it for 'research' and having thousands of tons of it rot in freezers.

The only countries that have higher numbers of whales killed (among all species including Beluga) are Norway, Greenland, and Canada. Canada isn't a member of the IWC, and Norway hunts outright.

So... wanna keep digging a hole there?

For the first time, Japan made a sovereign decision.

So let me get this straight:

Many whale species are endangered because not long ago, wypipo from Western countries melted them down by the millions for fuel to light entire cities.

Japan snags about 1,000 whales a year for food, as they've done for a long time. They mostly harvest minke whales, which are not only not endangered, but are a species the IUCN considers to be of "least concern".

So woke wypipo are up in arms that Japan would dare to kill any number of whales for any purpose.

Ok, got it.

It seems that Japan should have pulled out of IWC decades ago when whale moratorium began. IWC should let pro-whaling countries restart commercial hunting when most whales (not endangered) were recovered sufficiently. If they can not, there is no meaning of staying in IWC and paying millions of dollars.

@funkymofo

If you love whales and want to protect them, numbers matter, how many whales other countries kill matter. Your only focus is on Japan which kills the least amount of whales and they even have low quota each year, while neighboring countries kill 5x more whales than Japan.

Whales have super high levels of heavy metals.

Not for kids or anyone.

Whale research lies from day 1.

Backward Japan strikes again. This is another attempt by Abe to drag the country back to the glory days of world war 2. It seems Abe is all for international cooperation, at least until Japan doesn't get its way: then the Japanese storm off in a huff.

I hope commercial whaling means no more of our taxes will be wasted on this nonsense. I don't want to hear any whining whalers complaining they can't make a profit from this awful business.

The research papers focussed on migration patterns, food sources, pollution and so on. So, it was necessary to conduct research over a very big area of International waters

Not really; you can read the research papers on the ICR web site. Most of them seem to focus on whale behaviour and physical aspects of whales. There is very little written about the minke whales they killed for food, sorry "research".

Just out of curiosity, then why did Japan have to go that far before when they could hunt the whales near it's coasts?

The research papers focussed on migration patterns, food sources, pollution and so on. So, it was necessary to conduct research over a very big area of International waters. The commercial whale hunt announced today, will be conducted in Japans EEZ by government fisheries officers. It is in Japans Territories. There is no quota.

@alexBecu This is japantoday- JAPAN today. The clue is in the title.

A major tragedy for the whales, mammals who live in families and also are an important link in the ocean ecology. Japan is literally killing the ocean ecology, and for what?

A few weeks ago there was an article here in JT that read "Japanese ships leave for 'research whaling' in Antarctic Ocean".

And now, in this article, we can read

According to Kyodo News, the country is unlikely to catch whales in the Antarctic Ocean even if it did withdraw from the IWC, as it is eyeing commercial whaling only in seas near Japan and its exclusive economic zone.

Just out of curiosity, then why did Japan have to go that far before when they could hunt the whales near it's coasts?

I find hypocrites who criticize Japan about whaling bias.

I don't hear you complaining about any other country whaling which others kill thousands more than Japan. South Korea how many whales do they kill? Several European countries do it too.

This is the worst thing Japan could have done for itself, but the best thing they could have done for the IWC and anti-whaling nations. Now, they will be poachers in the southern ocean whale sanctuary, which they chose to ignore. I live to see the day when the Nissin Maru is scuttled for being a poaching vessel.

Japan will protect the whales like they protected bluefin tuna.

You know that whales are in international waters right ?

Whales don’t recognize international waters, don’t you know.

How much whale meat do Japanese actually eat?

The wrong question.

How much will they eat, with the constraint of the government denying commercial whaling being lifted, which will increase the commercial supply of the product?

Sheez about time.

Japan should have quit probably 2 decades ago.

Looking forward to some more fried, steaked whale, at lower prices!

I have no problem with this what so ever!

Its their right to withdraw and if they want to why not? The irony about all the arguments saying that Japan is defying a democratic institution is that by being a part of that very democratic institution they have the democratic right to choose to be a member or not! In this case they have decided to leave, good luck to them!

To be honest if you were constantly being lectured to, by self righteous other nations who showed little signs of compromise then you would get pretty annoyed as well. Fair play to Japan for having the courage and fortitude to say enough is enough and were no longer going to hide behind an excuse. You cant criticise them for being honest!

Well I hope the Australian Government balls up to defend what will then be illegal poaching of whales in the Arctic waters!

Another diplomatic fo par. Guess having 70 year old + political figures does have its down side after all. Who would have guessed.

Pulling out? That's a strategy that has failed many before! I'm looking forward to new episodes of Whale Wars! This time, I hope they sink the whalers' ships.

Why not?  After all, the government needs a place to spend that extra consumption tax money.  May as well shore up a dying industry.  Heck, they will probably assign some of those new foreign laborers to swabbing the decks...

It's fine that Norway and those other whaling countries commercial whale as they do it humanely 

It is impossible to guarantee a quick, clean kill in the open sea. Most of the whales die slow, painful, terrifying deaths, nothing humane about it.

the country is unlikely to catch whales in the Antarctic Ocean even if it did withdraw from the IWC, as it is eyeing commercial whaling only in seas near Japan and its exclusive economic zone.

Then all those years of 'research whaling' in the Antarctic to prove that stocks had recovered were for what reason? All that 'research data' is going to be thrown away? Or banged up in the freezers to rot along with the 'research material'?

There is no market for commercial whale meat. Assuming there will be no government subsidies (certainly not a given), the commercial supplies will be too expensive to be viable.

Just don't use my taxes.

if Japan want to hunt whales so badly go right ahead as long as they do it in their own waters just as their culture has done for 100s years, but we know Japan is mostly lip service, their end game is hunt as many whales wherever whenever they like and sell it as petfood, just like any ocean conservation Japan touches it turns too poo, with the heavily overfished species it currently catches I fear whaling will just be another disaster waiting to happen

Japan will only be hunting locally. 

Really?

How much whale meat do Japanese actually eat? From what I've read its minuscule these days so resuming whaling offers little other than employment for what, a few hundred people at the most?

Seems to be very little gain.

The school system that I work for has whale meat on their lunch menu about 2 or three times a year. It is a city of close to a half of a million people. I am sure there are many other cities and towns that feed their students whale. I bet schools are the biggest consumers, students being captive consumers.

The AvengerToday 05:16 pm JST

Good for the Japanese! I'm sick of us in the west imposing our attitudes on others. As deer are considered messengers to the gods in Shinto, I would suggest Japan insist on their right to hunt whales until the rest of the world agrees to outlaw deer hunting.

You know that whales are in international waters right ? That make a huge difference.

Hope they'll cut the government funding too, just let the market take care of that.

Good for the Japanese! I'm sick of us in the west imposing our attitudes on others.

Japan showing that it is behind the times once again.. It's fine that Norway and those other whaling countries commercial whale as they do it humanely and sustainably which Japan will never be able to do

This is disgusting... Norway, Iceland and Japan should hang their heads in shame for what they are doing. I only hope that their ships are harried by the likes of Sea Shepherd.

This is a good and practical step by Japan, they should follow the Nordic whaling nations for better and more sustainable whaling. The IWC has no legitimacy whatsoever

Japan will only be hunting locally. Well played!

That raises an interesting question about where Japan will go now that they are free to go anywhere and hunt any species of whale. I assume the Antarctic Minke whales were selected for research due to their commercial desirability, but I'm not an expert on this. Are there tastier whale species off the coast of Japan or Africa etc? Maybe they won't return to Antarctica at all?

Amazing news and finally! About time Japan left that club of virtue signalers that served no purpose. The anti-everything crowd should be pleased, Japan will only be hunting locally. Well played!

Didn't the Japanese Government mention something about policing the Pacific Oceans to stop illegal fishing only a few weeks ago, now this - you cant make this stuff up the double standards.

"Resume" implies a moratorium which Japan has never followed. Instead, they're simply re-terming their ruse of "scientific whaling" more accurately.

Excellent decision by the Abe Cabinet. IWC was undemocratic and unreasonable to Japan.

How much whale meat do Japanese actually eat? From what I've read its minuscule these days so resuming whaling offers little other than employment for what, a few hundred people at the most?

Seems to be very little gain.

Anyway as far as Australia is concerned, we need to enforce the whale sanctuaries in Australian territorial waters with the Navy and if Japanese ship is found in that area, then follow the procedures in place.

http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/e0444cc5-6dd7-4afb-b3f5-2d9642482e96/files/sanctuary-map.pdf

Outside of Australian territorial waters there is probably not a lot that can be done. Can cordinate with other like minded countries in setting up sanctuaries in their territorial waters, all the Pacific nations and supply them with the means to monitor it. Just need a few long endurance drones which is probably a good idea of security anyway.

I expect the public flogging of Japan in the court of public opinion to be a lasting one and that's a real pity.

If Australia were to withdraw from the Antarctic Treaty, it would be free to assert its claim to the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone off its Antarctic coast. It could detain any vessel fishing within its EEZ. This would significantly cripple Japanese whaling.

Following Norway, you mean. If the "Whaling" body opposes any and all whaling, there's no point in paying the membership fees.

At least they're being honest on the subject for the first time...

Does it mean the government will stop subsidizing ? No reason to pay whaling companies anything. If it becomes officially commercial, it means it's a viable business that should be able to support itself.

And if not... I'm sure they will find an excuse to give them taxpayers money !

It was democratic and Japan lost....so they walked away. It's sad when no one else understands, I remember when my parents didn't understand me.

Excellent decision by the Abe Cabinet. IWC was undemocratic and unreasonable to Japan.

Pulled out of the League of Nations too just grabbed their Top Hats and walked out. Join international organisations, can't get their way and leave. Seems to be a pattern here. Kind of like a spoilt child who can't get their way.