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Japan's whaling decision could affect Alaska Native whalers

29 Comments

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I personally do not favor whaling albeit primarily out of concern over organic mercury and other noxious substances that accumulate in the flesh of animals at or near the top of the food chain.

At the same time, I find it curious that there is no international condemnation of Iceland and Norway which together take many more whales than Japan does.

Whaling advocates in Japan have long claimed that racism is involved in the condemnation of Japanese whaling. Unless Iceland and Norway are also condemned for their whaling, condemnations focused solely on Japan give ammunition to the Japanese who say that racism is a factor in criticism in Japan.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Bugle Boy of Company B - I'm aware of Eskimo subsistence hunting rights. I'm fine with that. But if they want to cling to old traditions, let them do it with their own technology and without the help of Japan and it's advanced whale killing boats and equipment.

Bugle Boy of Company B - Modern boats, engines, guns, snowmobiles should not be used by the Eskimos (or any Native people who practice subsistence hunting).

Fortunately, it's not your call to make. You might have a better chance of enforcing your arbitrary rules by filing a complaint with the International Whaling Commission, or the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Yes

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Animal skins and no glasses. Play by 18th century (or whenever) rules, or by 21st century rules.

You do realize at some point in time Inuit whaling was not a tradition. So why not go back to then and say they can't whale at all?

Every tradition started at some point (and thus at that time wasn't traditional). Also almost every tradition has changed over time. Christmas didn't originally involve trees, but now they are considered traditional. And there are thousands of other examples of 'traditions' changing over time yet still being considered 'tradition'.

Also, the tradition isn't hunting whales from kayaks with wood and bone spears. The tradition is hunting whales. The tools used to conduct the hunts have been the best tools available at the time. When metal became available they started using it for spearheads to replace bone.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Where are these 21st century rules even written?

It’s a free world I believe, so deal with it.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Are they allowed to wear modern clothing when hunting or do they have to wear animal skins?

How about glasses? Can they wear prescription glasses?

Animal skins and no glasses. Play by 18th century (or whenever) rules, or by 21st century rules.

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

Sustainable whaling, be it by whoever, with modern technology, is perfectly acceptable.

A new international organization to promote sustainable whaling as such, is much in order.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Samit Basu, before criticizing Japan' s whale consumption, please first consider Korea who take far more than the Alaskan Inuit quota.

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/06/south-korea-whaling-bycatch/

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Modern boats, engines, guns, snowmobiles should not be used by the Eskimos (or any Native people who practice subsistence hunting).

Are they allowed to wear modern clothing when hunting or do they have to wear animal skins?

How about glasses? Can they wear prescription glasses?

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Modern boats, engines, guns, snowmobiles should not be used by the Eskimos (or any Native people who practice subsistence hunting).

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

The international commission banned commercial whaling in the 1980s as the whale population dwindled.

No, they did not.

"The main vulnerability for us is that automatic renewal could be challenged at some point in the future if the . balance of power within the IWC, given Japan's departure, shifts more in the direction of the anti-whaling coalition," Lefevre said.

The balance of power shifted 3 decades ago. The 3/4 requirement for voting is they only reason the anti-whaling coalition hasn't had complete control. Some of the whaling support may leave, but I expect some of the anti-whaling support will also leave. Most of the anti-whaling members that joined in the 80's where encouraged to join (with some even paid by NGO's to join) specifically to counter Japan. With Japan leaving these countries no longer have any incentive to continue spending the money to remain members and the NGO's no longer have an incentive to pay any money to encourage their continued membership.

Why dont Western nations, and left wing groups like Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace, attack and bully Eskimos like they do Japan for her traditional hunting of whales and dolphin? Hypocrisy.

Sea Shepherd does on a regular basis.

Japan was also singled out for hunting whales in the southern ocean whale sanctuary, which they chose to ignore.

You mean the sanctuary that even a study by the IWC's own Scientific Committee says was established in violation of the IWC's own charter? And Japan didn't 'ignore' anything. They followed the established rules of the IWC, unlike the IWC itself which ignores their own rules on a regular basis.

I have no issue with 67 whales for the entire Inuit population for a whole year.

With 20,000 Inuit that means one whale per 300 people. While even with the old figure of 1000 whales, with a population of 126 million in Japan you get one whale per 100,000 people.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Japan has the worlds best beef. Some of the worlds best rice and is able to grow much of what it needs in fruits and vegetables

Most of what Japanese eat, is imported (about 55percent of foods). Japanese hunting whales and dolphins (their traditional practice) will help improve self sufficiency in food in these extremely dangerous times. But I agree with you that Japanese produce the best quality meat, fruit and ruce in the world. Just not enough, due to too many mountains and huge population. Exactly why increasing whaling is so vital.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Why don't Western nations, and left wing groups like Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace, attack and bully Eskimos like they do Japan for her traditional hunting of whales and dolphin? Hypocrisy.

The Alaskan Inuit yearly quota is 67 whales. This is used for food in areas with no livestock or rice paddies.

The whales provide some measure of self sufficiency for the natives and has been required for survival for many centuries. They could now import all their food except for what fishing boats bring in but that would be expensive and difficult in some locations. Whales really are a required food source for Inuits and I have no issue with 67 whales for the entire Inuit population for a whole year.

Japan was catching hundreds for "research".

In the 2017/18 Antarctic season Japan took 333 Antarctic minke whales and in the North Pacific summer season 134 sei and 43 common minke whales offshore. Total 510 Whales killed for "research".

Japan has the worlds best beef. Some of the worlds best rice and is able to grow much of what it needs in fruits and vegetables. Livestock is also not an issue. Whale meat is rarely eaten in Japan and continues to decline.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Whale meat taken by Eskimos are indeed shared tribally. But it is also carried by snowmobile and sold to supermarkets and hotels. Aboriginal peoples are not frozen in time using outdated tools and equipment or not relying on modern commerce.

"A Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) investigation has documented the practice of commercial wholesalers commissioning subsistence whalers to supply the demand by supermarkets. Whale products in Greenland are sold in 4-star hotels."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_meat

6 ( +9 / -3 )

@Samit BasuToday 10:32 am JST

Well, the Japanese "tribe" is a bit bigger than the Eskimos, I suppose. And the Eskimos can learn to buy other food.

The point is that the IWC has really become an organization that is unobjective and does the inverse of what it initially grouped together to do. While I like the idea of international commitments, be it Anchugov v Russia or the IWC there are times when the international groups, allowed autonomy, clearly evolve until they are beyond their original mandate. This in itself is also a problem in international law.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

When Japan was out of IWC, so it will not abuse/bother its regulation any more. It seems Japan wants to be a commercial whaling country like Norway, Iceland,,,,,,others.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

commercial hunts in its territorial waters and its 200-mile (323-kilometer) exclusive economic zone along its coasts

This won’t last very long. It will not take long for stocks of whales within this economic zone to be depleted. Let’s face it, Japan does not have a good record of ecosystem management and I’m sure the local populations of whales will crash very quickly. I’m also sure that, within a few years they will be crying victim and attempting to head back to the southern oceans to fill their coffers with money, not food.

Ganbare Japan! - Why dont Western nations, and left wing groups like Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace, attack and bully Eskimos like they do Japan for her traditional hunting of whales and dolphin? Hypocrisy

Here we are again with a Japanese person crying victim and spreading anti-western sentiment. Allow me to clear this up for you.

SS and Greenpeace have both petitioned for the Alaskan ‘subsistence’ whale hunting to be stopped.

Japan was singled out for abusing the IWC regulation allowing for lethal research hunting.

Japan was also singled out for hunting whales in the southern ocean whale sanctuary, which they chose to ignore.

And, Japan was singled for unscrupulously buying votes in the IWC with gifts for poor nations.

This is is a major problem with Japanese culture. Japanese demand respect, but do nothing to earn it.

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

Eskimo whalers do not hunt whales to sell; they distribute what they catch among their tribal members fairly to be consumed as food in what is otherwise an extremely harsh environment.

This is why Eskimo whaling is OK with IWC while Japan's commercial whaling and fake "research" whaling are not, because Japanese whaling activity's objective is the commercial sale of the catch.

Eskimos have literally few other food sources to eat other than whale meat.

Japanese absolutely do not need to eat whale meat to survive.

-4 ( +10 / -14 )

since1981Today  07:40 am JST

Bugle, Eskimos hunt for food. It has always been a way of life for them. They don't over kill for "research".

According to the anti-whalers, Japan's "research" was really for food, which is the same as the "Eskimos". Both hunt whales with modern weapons and equipment. To tell the Eskimos that they must not hunt and eat whale meat is taboo because it would be cultural imperialism, yet it is ok to do the exact same thing to the Japanese?

Japanese research whaling never "over killed" anything targeting an abundant species. Over-Hunting would defeat the very purpose of research whaling under IWC Article VIII carried out to determine if whale stocks have recovered sufficiently enough to re-address the 19856 moratorium on commercial whaling. Such data is honestly accepted would have helped maintain whale populations and assist those who hunt and consume whales.

The Anti-Whaling faction have turned the IWC which was created and exists to regulate the Whaling Industry into an Anti-Whaling organization, with the goal of terminating whaling of any kind throughout the world. The Eskimos are right to be worried.

7 ( +15 / -8 )

Bugle Boy of Company BToday  07:27 am JST

The Eskimos can hunt all they want with their canoes and harpoons.

"That morning, the first of the annual fall hunt, a crew of Inupiat Eskimos cruising the Arctic Ocean in a small powerboat spotted the whale’s spout, speeded to the animal’s side and killed the whale with an exploding harpoon. By lunchtime, children were tossing rocks at the animal’s blowhole while its limp body swayed in the shore break like so much seaweed. Blood seeped through its baleen as a bulldozer dragged all 28 feet of it across the rocky beach."

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/17/us/in-sacred-whale-hunt-eskimos-use-modern-tools.html

7 ( +11 / -4 )

It seems no problem for Eskimos to be constantly able to hunt as necessary amount of whales as they want. Japan's decision would not affect Eskimos.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Why dont Western nations, and left wing groups like Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace, attack and bully Eskimos like they do Japan for her traditional hunting of whales and dolphin? Hypocrisy.

GJ,

Simple, how many times have Inuit been spotted in the Antarctic whaling?? When you figure that out you MIGHT have your answer!

3 ( +13 / -10 )

I wonder how many Eskimos hunt whales every year? I've heard that japan whalers don't go to (around) Antarctic and Alaska any more. They hunt whales in EEZ around japan. affect?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I'm aware of Eskimo subsistence hunting rights. I'm fine with that. But if they want to cling to old traditions, let them do it with their own technology and without the help of Japan and it's advanced whale killing boats and equipment.

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

Why dont Western nations, and left wing groups like Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace, attack and bully Eskimos like they do Japan for her traditional hunting of whales and dolphin? Hypocrisy.

7 ( +21 / -14 )

Well, I guess the Eskimos will learn that when the going gets tough, the Japanese are like rats deserting a sinking ship.

-19 ( +3 / -22 )

That’s the UN and their concept of fairness and compassion for the “little guy”. The Japanese should be paying Eskimos 100s of millions a year in compensation for the damage ajapan does to the oceans.

-22 ( +3 / -25 )

Bugle, Eskimos hunt for food. It has always been a way of life for them. They don't over kill for "research".

-6 ( +11 / -17 )

The Eskimos can hunt all they want with their canoes and harpoons.

-6 ( +8 / -14 )

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