national

Australia harpoons Japan's whaling program at U.N. court

65 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2013 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

65 Comments
Login to comment

I understand that you do not see whales as anything special and you wouldn't mind living in a world with or without them

No you don't understand. Why do you believe I wouldn't mind living in a world without whales?

And yes Big Eye Tuna will be completely gone from the seas in possibly yours and in my life time-(or in the next 40 years).

Well they currently aren't even endangered and with the controls in place they should do fine. But yes, just like for EVERY species on the planet there is a possibility that they might not survive the next 40 years.

-3 ( +0 / -2 )

I understand that you do not see whales as anything special and you wouldn't mind living in a world with or without them-and that is your right to think so..All I wanted to do is to see if paying the whalers were an option-so that both parties could come to an agreement on the issue. You never know untill you ask but most people if they had a way to make more money doing something else more profitable most people would take it.. They would be paid basically to give up a tradition of killing whales. Even if there were many left or just 1000s-NOT killing them would be the goal..The ultimate decision would be up to the whalers. I don't see why you think it's such a bad idea. And yes Big Eye Tuna will be completely gone from the seas in possibly yours and in my life time-(or in the next 40 years)..

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Still there are so many species that are vanishing and gone forever because of over fishing...Whales are like magical mystical creatures to many people exspecialy Americans.Why not just pay the Japanese whalers to leave them alone and give them more money them they would make from Whaling.If they don,t take the money then the Sea Shepard will be more then willing to take all donations. I think it would be the right thing to do by giving the whalers another avenue to make money. Retired Whalers Benefits~It's a win win.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

these few whales left.

But there aren't 'few whales left'. The main species they hunt has a population of over 500,000.

Whale meat is very high in mercury

Not actually. Toothed whales and dolphins have levels similar to other top sea predators, like tuna. But baleen whales eat much lower on the food chain and thus have much lower mercury levels. And the fact that the whales from the Southern Ocean are far from most industrial sources of mercury gives them even lower levels.

-4 ( +0 / -3 )

Let's just pay them money for not hunting whales...the American public would donate to that cause every year..We should pay them to keep there boats docked and not give them a reason to hunt these few whales left...Whale meat is very high in mercury and is not the best meat for human consumption...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It must be said, decrease in whales was not good. More whales is better, we need it for more sustainable whaling.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Robert, you did however say that the discover was recent which is wrong.

And please give your scientific basis for why whales are ecologically a necessity. Keeping in mind that whales have existed for less than 70 million years yet life survived just fine for hundreds of millions of years before that. And that even with the huge decrease in whales from the 1700's through about 1970, the world's ecology keep right on going.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Mike O'Brien at Jun. 28, 2013 - 08:43PM JST 'But they didn't recently discover this, as you claimed. And even though there are no krill on land there are other organisms that take the same functional ecological slot and recycle poop back into the ecosystem, which sequests carbon. Another case of learning a little about how the world works if you just do a little research.'

Haha i didn't say other animals didn't - they are not the argument but so glad you finally learnt that the whales are very helpful for our lives, ecologically a necessity. We all live here together

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Meanwhile the researchers do try all kinds of esoteric insemination experiments; injecting cow and pig egg cells with whale sperm, trying to produce test-tube whale babies (presumably using ginormous test tubes)

Getting sperm to try and impregnate an ovum is one way to test its fertility. But collecting ripe ova, especially from whales, is very difficult. But collecting lots of ova from cows and pigs can be done fairly easily by injecting them with hormones that cause them to release lots of ripe ova. Then since most mammal sperm will at least try and fertilize the ova from cows and pigs, even though nothing viable will result, the viability of the sperm can be determined. Neat how real science works when you just do a little research rather than intentionally remaining ignorant.

Sure they do u just admitted it and much more so than on land as guess what wise guy - there are no krill on land

But they didn't recently discover this, as you claimed. And even though there are no krill on land there are other organisms that take the same functional ecological slot and recycle poop back into the ecosystem, which sequests carbon. Another case of learning a little about how the world works if you just do a little research.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Disillusioned

Now, you are being funny! Thank you! Whale numbers have increased because pro-whalers have not been allowed to kill them, de sho?

Whale numbers can increase even when "pro-whalers" kill them.

It is sustainable whaling.

We do not seek the unsustainable whaling, which is whaling the decreases numbers of whales.

Thunderbird2,

Trouble is I know in my heart that nothing will change until there are no whales left on the planet, and mankind has exterminated another sentient species.

Please try to use head to think, instead of heart. Maybe then you not so worried.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

scientists recently discovered that whale feces helps fight climate change Mike O'Brien at Jun. 27, 2013 - 05:39PM JST ''No they really didn't. What they reported was that whale feces is used by microbes to grow, those microbes then become food for krill and the growing microbes and krill sequester carbon. But guess what? The feces of every animal on teh planet does the same thing and this has been known for decades. Whales are no more intertwined with their local ecosystem than any other animal''

Sure they do u just admitted it and much more so than on land as guess what wise guy - there are no krill on land

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Thunderbird2Jun. 27, 2013 - 11:13PM JST I don't know what the outcome of this will be, but if it leads to a ban on all whaling I'll be a very happy bunny.

Considering that Australia's complaint does not seek to end "all whaling" I don't really see how that can happen.

If it only leads to Japan being forced to cease and desist 'scientific' hunting I'll still be a happy bunny.

Will you still be a happy bunny if the outcome is that Japan stops Scientific Whaling, raises an objection and resumes Commercial Whaling like Iceland and Norway are doing?

Trouble is I know in my heart that nothing will change until there are no whales left on the planet, and mankind has >exterminated another sentient species.

More Whales die from collisions with ships than from any human whaling.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I don't know what the outcome of this will be, but if it leads to a ban on all whaling I'll be a very happy bunny. If it only leads to Japan being forced to cease and desist 'scientific' hunting I'll still be a happy bunny. Trouble is I know in my heart that nothing will change until there are no whales left on the planet, and mankind has exterminated another sentient species.

Other people have mentioned the other whaling countries - well, I hope that they are looking over their shoulders now. I know America won't be - they don't recognise the UN unless it suits them.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

hopetoeatwhales - Anti-whaler to claim credit for reproduction of whales is ridiculous. Anti-whalers do not do artificial insemination of whales. Whale numbers increase because of NATURE.

Now, you are being funny! Thank you! Whale numbers have increased because pro-whalers have not been allowed to kill them, de sho?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Mike Critchley

"We have to kill the whales...to learn how to sustain them."

It does not sound circular logic to me. To know how they estimate the population of whales and how they figure out sustainable catch limits, read, for example, this research paper. http://events.iwc.int/index.php/scientific/SC65a/paper/viewFile/282/261

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Anti-whalers do not do artificial insemination of whales

Meanwhile the researchers do try all kinds of esoteric insemination experiments; injecting cow and pig egg cells with whale sperm, trying to produce test-tube whale babies (presumably using ginormous test tubes)

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/japan-cross-breeding-cows-with-whales/story-e6frfkp9-1111115744884

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Tokyo says the research is conducted to better understand the sustainability of whale stocks

Just to clarify. He's saying, "We have to kill the whales...to learn how to sustain them."

And circular logic works because circular logic works. I hope these guys get blasted in the final UN decision.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Disillusioned,

Why is it funny? Do you disagree that the reason there are increasing whale numbers is because of international conservation efforts and the international ban on commercial whaling?

Anti-whaler to claim credit for reproduction of whales is ridiculous. Anti-whalers do not do artificial insemination of whales. Whale numbers increase because of NATURE.

Sustainable whaling is to take less than natural increase.

Special effort by anti-whalers is not required.

Do you have another explanation as to why whale numbers are increasing? I would love to hear it!

Birds and bees. I should not explain in much detail on Japan Today :)

Then, you can explain to me why Japan feels they have the sole right to commercially harvest them

Japan does not feel it has sole right. All nation have same rights. It is why IWC was formed. We need to make sure each whaling nations takes number

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

“proud of its tradition of living in harmony with nature, and utilizing living resources while respecting their sustainability,”

absolute nonsense and utterly false, last time i checked their favorite maguro is not sustainable and yet they are still the largest consumer of it

and by harmony i guess so long as the ocean continue to give up those lovely whales, dolphins and fish

1 ( +1 / -0 )

smithinjapanJun. 27, 2013 - 12:18PM JST “It simply isn’t science,” Everyone with half a brain knows this. Only people who still think the planet might just be square and you can fall off >the edges truly believes Japan is conducting science.

So according to you, the members of the IWC Scientific Committee have less than half a brain?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Nature always finds a way, even if whales will become extinct. With the current hunting tendencies on a global scale I suppose the natural selection of animals in the wild will praise the ones which are ugliest and useless to people, the rest will simply die out. It's not just Japan. It's a global process fueled by overpopulation.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Disillusioned

Maybe commercial whaling isn't viable after all, hey?

There are half a million minke whales in the Antarctic Ocean. Commercial whaling under certain catch limits is viable.

When the moratorium of commercial whaling was adopted, it was agreed at IWC that they would undertake to set new catch limits by 1990. They still cannot agree on setting new catch limits even though everyone knows sustainable commercial whaling is viable, because anti-whaling nations like Australia are against it at any rate forgetting their agreed obligation to set new catch limits. The real reason that Australia is against whaling is that they love whales and it is their culture. They should come to acknowledge that.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Particularly when the IWC has asked Japan on multiple occasions not to conduct its lethal 'research'.

Interestingly the IWC never say that Japan's whaling is violating their own regulations. And the IWC Science Committee also thanks Japan for the data they are providing and says the data is useful to them.

scientists recently discovered that whale feces helps fight climate change

No they really didn't. What they reported was that whale feces is used by microbes to grow, those microbes then become food for krill and the growing microbes and krill sequester carbon. But guess what? The feces of every animal on teh planet does the same thing and this has been known for decades. Whales are no more intertwined with their local ecosystem than any other animal.

Ah, so two wrongs make a right, then?

Well since Japan has only been accused of it while the anti-whalers have admitted it. So currently there is only one wrong.

At least the anti-whaling nations are doing it to protect a species and conserve the environment

So two wrongs don't make a right but if a wrong is for a good purpose (or just one you agree with) then it isn't a wrong?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Nessie: "Anti-whaling countries have been doling out bribes to landlocked countries for much longer. Mongolia, 1000km from the nearest ocean, land of the majestic steppe whale, and IWC member since the 1980s!"

Ah, so two wrongs make a right, then? What's your point? Do anti-whaling countries doing it, which is wrong, make Japan doing it okay? Perhaps it's you who should give it a rest. At least the anti-whaling nations are doing it to protect a species and conserve the environment, unlike Japan, under the guise of science.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

CH3CHO - At whose cost did the number of the whales increase? Moratorium cost nothing to Australia. It cost a lot to Japan.

Well, cry me a river! Maybe commercial whaling isn't viable after all, hey?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Disillusioned

The purpose of incorporation of IWC is to set catch limits for commercial whaling for each country. If the commercial whaling is resumed and if Japan is the only country that wants to receive quota for commercial whaling, it should get the quota. Other countries do not need to lament their lack of quota for they do not want it.

At whose cost did the number of the whales increase? Moratorium cost nothing to Australia. It cost a lot to Japan.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

hopetoeatwhales - It is funniest thing to read on Japan Today, today.

Why is it funny? Do you disagree that the reason there are increasing whale numbers is because of international conservation efforts and the international ban on commercial whaling? I fail to see anything funny about it. Do you have another explanation as to why whale numbers are increasing? I would love to hear it! Then, you can explain to me why Japan feels they have the sole right to commercially harvest them for profit from the other end of the earth where they have been and still are protected.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Real science would tell you not to hint the wales at all it seems .......Whales may be helpless to save themselves from potential krill crashes, but in one positive sign of how ecologically important they are, scientists recently discovered that whale feces helps fight climate change. The droppings of whales in the Southern Ocean contribute much-needed iron to the environment, a nutrient that props up large plankton swarms. Not only does this plankton make up the base of the region's food web, but it also increases the ocean's ability to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, pumping it down toward the sea floor instead. This may not help much with ocean acidity — the carbon has to go somewhere, after all — but it does highlight how deeply intertwined whales are with their local ecosystems, and with the world as a whole. There are many articles all about but this is a fairly simple easy to read answer to many questions... http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/translating-uncle-sam/stories/are-endangered-whales-still-in-danger

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Give it a rest, Smith. Anti-whaling countries have been doling out bribes to landlocked countries for much longer. Mongolia, 1000km from the nearest ocean, land of the majestic steppe whale, and IWC member since the 1980s!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

CH3CHO, "Actually, IWC itself sees it scientific research. These voices are of a lot of value at court."

You're right of course, these voices would have value in court. Particularly when the IWC has asked Japan on multiple occasions not to conduct its lethal 'research'.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

ihopetoeatwhales:

"Make-believe."

The science? I agree.

CH3CHO: "Actually, IWC itself sees it scientific research. These voices are of a lot of value at court."

Ah, yes, those land-locked African nations who get millions of dollars in 'aid' just before an IWC vote, which just so happens to be carried out in part by judges from the nations that benefit. Of course, those millions come AFTER the IWC judges are flown to Japan in private jets, 'serviced' by high-class prostitutes, and given bribe money (which even they admit to), all on your and my tax dollars, my friend. So, by saying they are their voices are 'a lot of value', you simply mean very expensive for the people of Japan.

Japan really should just leave the IWC and come clean about the true nature of their hunt. It's not for science any more than the Taiji dolphin slaughter is 'science'. At least in the latter they don't lie about it... well, okay, they hide behind tarps while the mayor says there's nothing to hide, but you catch my drift. Japan is literally the laughing stock of the world on this issue; if they at least owned up to what they're really doing they could do it without having to lower their heads, twiddling their thumbs, and avoiding eye-contact.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

What a grossly stupid and biased headline, typical of AFP on this subject. Japan hasn't answered Australia's complaint and won't until July. So how exactly has Australian "harpooned" Japan? No one has harpooned anybody at this stage.

"Japan contemplates Australian-hurled harpoon expected to be airborne for weeks" doesn't have the same ring, Ossan.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

smithinjapan

"It simply isn't science,"

Everyone with half a brain knows this.

Oh, really? You had better not use insulting words.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/australian-court-case-against-japanese-whaling-to-begin-wednesday-in-the-hague

Don Rothwell, an Australian National University expert on international law in relation to whaling who has advised the Australian government, said Australia's case would be difficult to make.

The Australian legal counsel sees it scientific research. Actually, IWC itself sees it scientific research. These voices are of a lot of value at court. It is only the activists who pathetically call it not science. I am looking forward to seeing what smith will do when ICJ judges in favor of Japan.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Disillusioned,

Cl400 - The main aim of Japanese whale research is to prove commercial whaling is viable -for Japan, which it may very well be, but the only reason it would be viable is due to the conservation efforts of many other countries

It is funniest thing to read on Japan Today, today.

Japan has a long history of exploiting other countries for personal gain, this making their cultural defense very true.

Not a very good comment.

smithinjapan,

Everyone with half a brain knows this.

Maybe, everyone with only half a brain thinks it.

Only people who still think the planet might just be square and you can fall off the edges truly believes Japan is conducting science.

Make-believe.

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

I personally hope Japan leave the IWC also. Not because I support their slaughter of these near universally admired and largely protected, beautiful and unique creatures. But rather because I would like to see the Japanese just come pout and be honest about what they are doing. They don't care about the science and research at all - they just want to eat whale and thumb their noses at the vast majoirty of the world who would like them to stop.

So do it already! Leave the IWC so we can BE RIGHT about what you're doing officially.

And wouldn't it be great! All the two-faced lies of the past about research would come back to haunt Japan as they just got about slaughtering whales for food OPENLY... kind of like they do now... but without the moronic lies we read like in the article above.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

""Disillusioned “Japan is proud of its tradition of living in harmony with nature, and utilizing living resources while respecting their sustainability,”

"Cough, cough!" This is a pretty ripe statement. How about the north Pacific sardine, which is extinct in Japanese waters due to over-fishing? How about the north Japan sea that is a jellyfish filled dessert? It seems the Japanese defence is as hollow as their whale research.""

very well said. And let us not forget that every time the world tries to protect any other creature which the Japanese like to trade the Japanese are always against it. Just look at the Atlantic bluefin tuna, , the world tries to lower fishing quotas and the Japanese are against it.the world wants to continue the ban on the trade of African ivory and the Japanese want an end to the ban.. the world wants the Japanese to stop slaughtering dolphins but the Japanese continue to slaughter. This thing about the Japanese "living in harmony with nature" is nothing but a big BS myth.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

“It simply isn’t science,”

Everyone with half a brain knows this. Only people who still think the planet might just be square and you can fall off the edges truly believes Japan is conducting science.

"Japan is "proud of its tradition of living in harmony with nature, and utilizing living resources while respecting their sustainability,"

Yeah, I was thinking exactly this as I walked past three dirt parks this morning, under an expressway where rice fields and bamboo groves and a river used to be, and for a short time on a small mountain path where the mountainsides were cemented over and all trees cut down. Japan respects nature in photographs and nostalgia only; even in travel on group tours they often don't stop to see the few, just snap a picture flashing the peace sign, and the real travel begins when they print and look at the pictures back in the concrete 'mansions' at home.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

"Australia’s claim is invalid. Japan’s research whaling has been conducted for scientific research in accordance with international law."

Japan is "proud of its tradition of living in harmony with nature, and utilizing living resources while respecting their sustainability,"

Those two sentences don't work very well Japan.

JT: If you are going to stop people from posting another comment after your previous comment, either put it on a timer OR ADD AN 5 MIN POST EDIT FUNCTION!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Whales are just fishes. Reducing their population will increase global food supply of fishes and planctons.

The problem here is that, in major organizations and the media in Japan, there isn't much of a custom of different opinions having to compete with each other in terms of their validity in order to be accepted. Instead, conclusions are reached by 'consensus' or at the whim of the most senior individual in a group.

As a result, ridiculous opinions can become widespread or even reach the status of 'common sense' in Japan, such that senior diplomats really believe they'll be considered credible when they stand up in front of an international audience of human rights specialist and claim that "Japan is one of the most advanced countries in human rights" or in front of an audience of world-leading marine scientists and say "whales are big, so they eat a lot of fish, so killing lots of whales will give us more fish".

If they offer these opinions in front of a Japanese audience or in a Japanese media interview, they'll rarely be challenged, such as by bringing up the 99% conviction rate or the concept of food chains and the importance that they aren't disrupted.

However, when Japan realizes the ridicule that such 'common sense' opinions are met with upon exposure to the outside world, they retreat behind their beloved status of victimhood ("Japan bashing") or the unique Japanese culture ("no one understands us because no one can understand us"). There doesn't seem to be anyway to avoid this cycle.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Cl400 - The main aim of Japanese whale research is to prove commercial whaling is viable -for Japan, which it may very well be, but the only reason it would be viable is due to the conservation efforts of many other countries, which Japan chooses to exploit for their own commercial gain. They then turn around and defend it by stating it is their culture, which could be considered to be true. Japan has a long history of exploiting other countries for personal gain, this making their cultural defense very true.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

It's a blatant lie. If it is for science research they don't need to be catching extra whales for food. And where are the results of this 'so called' research? How does it help us?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

First whales, next all seafood, then beef.. The Greens are taking over.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

"Japan is proud of it's tradition of living in harmony with nature"

A bit rich from a nation that concretes any/everything. The myth of "living in harmony with nature" was busted long ago. If the populace was correctly informed about the industry, that the whale meat is mainly dog food, and that their taxes are used to prop up an unviable industry, then i'm sure most would think differently about it.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

@hkitagawa WOW some people are just plain brain dead, whales arnt fish they are MAMMALS! like humans, they have complex social structures and are one of the oceans most intelligent creatures. just because a human can kill creature of lesser intelligence doesnt make it dumb or a lower form of life.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

I hope they can do something to shut the whole whaling system down.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Samuraiblue - Nice try mate, but that is rubbish and you know it!

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

@Dilbert - not to mention filling the world's roads with cars and motor bikes and atmosphere with CO2.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Whales are just fishes. They are good to be eaten as Sashimi :) Reducing their population will increase global food supply of fishes and planctons.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

"proud of its tradition of living in harmony with nature, and utilizing living resources while respecting their sustainability,"

I lauged at this. They still make statements like this where there is no fish left in their waters. While slashing dolphins year after year in their coves and leaving 100s of tons of whale meat in cold storags while hunting more whales. Oo, how about buying fin whales from Iceland and turn it to dog treats? That's respecting nature right?

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Canberra took Tokyo to court in 2010, saying that more than 10,000 whales have been killed since 1988 as a result of Japan’s JARPA and JARPA II research programs...

Japan's caught SO many over all these years but the whales are still there, thriving with a healthy population? Wait, could it be...does it mean that...whaling is sustainable? Imagine that.

3 ( +12 / -9 )

Japan is "proud of its tradition of living in harmony with nature". Wow .... unbelievable.

5 ( +11 / -6 )

almondjoy

However, a 2006 ABC investigation found that only four academic papers had been published by the Japanese that required fatal whaling practices

Just read the IWC agreement on whaling moratorium.

http://iwc.int/cache/downloads/1lv6fvjz06f48wc44w4s4w8gs/Schedule-February-2013.pdf

10 (e) Notwithstanding the other provisions of paragraph 10, catch limits for the killing for commercial purposes of whales from all stocks for the 1986 coastal and the 1985/86 pelagic seasons and thereafter shall be zero. This provision will be kept under review, based upon the best scientific advice, and by 1990 at the latest the Commission will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the effects of this decision on whale stocks and consider modification of this provision and the establishment of other catch limits.

The sole purpose of research whaling is to contribute to the estimation of the number of whales, which IWC calls best scientific advise. It is to produce just 1 paper on whale stock estimation and that is what the project is all about.

By the way it is 2013, more than 20 years after 1990 which was the deadline for setting new catch limits. You must admit that the delay is due to bad faith of Australian government as well as some other stubborn pressure groups that protest whaling at any rate.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

If only the Australian government was so committed to protecting it's own citizens abducted to Japan. Australia also understands this issue through Australia's support for japan on the Korean abduction issue. Otherwise "excellent relationship with Japan" what a crock of BS!! All they can do is push left behind parents under the carpet. The Australian government is run on popularity without principle!

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

“proud of its tradition of living in harmony with nature, and utilizing living resources while respecting their sustainability,”

Yep the bunka card. ;)

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Japans ludicrous defense of course is that their activities are merely "scientific research," utilizing a loophole that dates back to the 1946 establishment of the International Whaling Commission when the industry became heavily commercialized and a subsequent 1986 moratorium, both of which included the scientific exception for whaling alongside small amounts for indigenous populations and other cases.

However, a 2006 ABC investigation found that only four academic papers had been published by the Japanese that required fatal whaling practices, in contrast to an estimated 6,800 whale deaths in the previous 16 years. In other words, one academic paper per 1,700 whales killed.

http://thediplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2013/03/14/antarctic-treaty-seemingly-not-for-whales-sake/

i took the "harpooned" comment as "took a stab (jab) at" japans whaling program"

Tho only thing i dont like about all this is the BS "for science" crap.

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Japan says that the number of minke whales it hunts is much less than their birth rate and is therefore sustainable.

I think this is the real issue. Japan is being utterly selfish and self-centered. The reason that whale hunting is sustainable at the moment is because most other countries are NOT whale hunting because they're respecting the treaty in the hopes that the whale population will recover enough to make it viable again in future centuries.

A simple metaphor would be Japan standing next to a fruit tree and gobbling down each fruit as it grows so that no-one else can have any.

Of course it is worth noting that Japan isn't the only country hunting whales at the moment. The U.S., Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Indonesia, Norway and South Korea are also all equally guilty.

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

How many whale killings are acceptable for "science" vs "business"? Did Japan surpass these allowances?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I like the headline. Australia is currently whaling on Japan but Nippon's turn will come - not that we will hear anything new from either side. Not so much a White whale as a White Elephant.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Disillusioned

Sardine catch varies each year due to the snaking Ocean current that changes it's course due to the rise in sea temperature. Sea temperature and the vast amount of nutrient rich sewage flushed from the Chinese mainland is the main reason for the rise in amount of jellyfish. Has very little to do with Japan and largely with Global warming.

3 ( +12 / -9 )

“Japan is proud of its tradition of living in harmony with nature, and utilizing living resources while respecting their sustainability,”

"Cough, cough!" This is a pretty ripe statement. How about the north Pacific sardine, which is extinct in Japanese waters due to over-fishing? How about the north Japan sea that is a jellyfish filled dessert? It seems the Japanese defence is as hollow as their whale research.

8 ( +20 / -12 )

zichiJun. 27, 2013 - 07:56AM JST "No one has harpooned anybody at this stage." In fact, this year, Japan had the lowest whale catch this century with only about 130 minke whales from the Antarctic >and about 32 Minke whales from the Northen Pacific? Won't be much "research" this year?

The article and the term "harpoon" refers to the ICJ case. Not the whale catch.

-8 ( +8 / -16 )

What a grossly stupid and biased headline, typical of AFP on this subject. Japan hasn't answered Australia's complaint and won't until July. So how exactly has Australian "harpooned" Japan? No one has harpooned anybody at this stage.

7 ( +21 / -14 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites