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Japan begins FY 2017 'research whaling' in northwest Pacific

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inb4 all the comments whining about fishing non-endangered whales and supporting a certain terrorist organization from NZ.

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

The whaling fleet is planning to capture up to 43 minke whales and 134 sei whales through late September to collect data on stomach contents and skin samples among other things, according to the Fisheries Agency.

'Capture'? That's a new one - don't they mean KILL?

Let's kill some whales to see if there are enough whales for us to kill for profit... yeah, that's logical.

5 ( +11 / -6 )

Well these catches are in Japanese waters so no issues here

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

I don't care where the whales are - I'm against all whaling, full stop

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Japan's so-called research whaling

I'm against whale hunting but I thought news articles were supposed to be neutral? Is there any proof that the whales being hunt are not for research use?

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/our-work/whales/truth-about-%E2%80%98scientific%E2%80%99-whaling

Scientific permit whaling requires whale meat to be used, ie, to be sold or given away. This means a scientific permit is little more than a licence to sell whale meat.

The approval of a scientific whaling permit is granted by the nation that applied for it. In other words, Japan approves its own permits for scientific whaling without any external scrutiny or need for explanation.

It is no coincidence that the only nations that kill whales for science are those most interested in trying to create markets for whale meat. Japan’s scientific whaling programme led to the killing of hundreds of whales in 2009 alone.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

I was also struck by the use of quotes in the title, and "what it calls" and "so-called" in the article. Not what I would have expected from Kyodo.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

This is so laughable in todays sience society with the advances of technology with the tools used to study whales and other marine animals. You do not have to kill the animals to study them so lets be honest here if u are CAPTURING the whales and KILLING them then selling the meat afterwards isnt that commercial whaling??? Because real SCIENCE IS CATCH AND RELEASE. So i guess whalers wont be satisfied till there are no more whales for our future generations to see alive and in their own habitat because they will have gone they way of the dinosaurs, they will only be seen in BOOKS and to me thats a shame. What kind of planet do you want to leave for our future generations?????

5 ( +10 / -5 )

What kind of planet do you want to leave for our future generations?????

Sadly, the future of the planet is currently in the hands of climate change deniers. And the seas get more toxic and choked with plastic, as well. When the whales go, it will be our turn next.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

The only real research going on here is how much whale meat can we get, and how much can we sell, before the rest gets thrown away. You can tell what something eats by what comes out in its waste. No need to kill it.

This is to keep a hand full of jobs and to sell whale meat. Nothing more.

Thankfully demand for whale meat is in steady decline.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Research whaling? What are they researching? Whales are on the edge of extinction already and these "researchers" are killing the last remaining animals to sell their meat to the luxurious restaurants in Japan.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Terms like "what it calls research whaling" and "Japan's so-called research whaling" are commonly used in the media because what Japan is doing is not widely recognised as research. Japan's "research" has in the past been rejected by the International Whaling Commission's scientific committee, and the International Court of Justice has declared in recent years that Japan's whaling is "not for the purposes of scientific research". In this context, the media using these terms is actually quite conciliatory to Japan.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Good on Japan in reducing their catch to only 304 whales. That's chump change compared to the barbaric wholesale 1,000+ slaughter of pregnant Minkes committed by the so-called "civilized" Norwegians. Surely anti-whalers are not going after Japan again even though there's a much more egregious offender operating freely?

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Actually, Japan is doing scientific research. They are trying to prove that commercial whaling is sustainable (for Japan). However, just because 'a few' whale species have recovered and their populations 'may' support a 'limited' commercial catch, why should Japan have exclusive rights to it? Over 100 countries gave up commercial whale hunting when the IWC was formed and banned commercial whale hunting in the early 80's. If Japan wishes to return to commercial whaling, they should be made to compensate the other countries who gave up whaling to create this resource for Japan to solely exploit. There are a few other countries who also disregard the embargo, but they are mostly subsistence, as are the indigenous groups who still hunt them. However, Japan does not have a stable market for the consumption or sale of this meat, which makes their quest a total farce! When you consider these facts, you can conclude there is only one reason for Japan to persist with their farcical whale research hunting, GREED!

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

metaterapin

inb4 all the comments whining about fishing non-endangered whales and supporting a certain terrorist organization from NZ.

Terrorist organization from NZ ??? Sea Shepherd (who I assume you are referring to) is not from NZ. I suggest you get your facts correct before rushing to submit the "Number one comment".

Oh, and by the way, Sei whales are endangered.

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sei-whale

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Terrorist organization from NZ ??? Sea Shepherd (who I assume you are referring to) is not from NZ. I suggest you get your facts correct before rushing to submit the "Number one comment".

http://www.seashepherd.org/

We use innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas.

Exposing illegal activities? Clearly terrorists. Or pirates. The tree hugging bleeding heart pinkos!

Maybe the poster meant Rainbow Warrior, the Greenpeace ship attacked in Auckland by French terrorists, sorry, French intelligence operatives back in '85?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

"But an antiwhaling group of IWC members has raised an objection."

So why are these nation even members of an organization that exists to regulate whale stocks for the benefit of the whaling industry?

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Ossanamerica - an organization that exists to regulate whale stocks for the benefit of the whaling industry?

I'm confused! What whaling industry are you referring to? As of the early 80's there is no whaling industry, right?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Show us this so-called "research."

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

"DisillusionedJune 1410:16 pm JST

Ossanamerica - an organization that exists to regulate whale stocks for the benefit of the whaling industry?

I'm confused! What whaling industry are you referring to? As of the early 80's there is no whaling industry, right?

Yes you must be, but there's no need.

"The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is the global body charged with the conservation of whales and the management of whaling. The IWC currently has 88 member governments from countries all over the world. All members are signatories to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. This Convention is the legal framework which established the IWC in 1946. "

The term "management of whaling" means the whaling industry. It does not mean Whale watching, whale photography, whale idolizing, even whale conservation unless it is for the purposes of the IWC charter.

https://iwc.int/home

"DisillusionedJune 1406:31 pm JST

Actually, Japan is doing scientific research. They are trying to prove that commercial whaling is sustainable (for Japan). However, just because 'a few' whale species have recovered and their populations 'may' support a 'limited' commercial catch, why should Japan have exclusive rights to it? "

Where did you get the idea that Japan (or any other country) would have "exclusive rights" to a hypothetically resumed limited commercial whaling?

0 ( +5 / -5 )

I don't get it. Japan starts its whaling season for a total of 80 minke whales and its global news. However, Norway started their mink whaling season in April with a quota of 999 minke whales, and not a blip in the news. You know the difference? The Japanese actually care what the world thinks. Norwegians, don't give a fat rats arse.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

You do not have to kill the animals to study them

Depends on what data you are collecting. The only reliable way to tell a whales age requires killing it. Recoving samples of the various internal organs requires killing it.

if u are CAPTURING the whales and KILLING them then selling the meat afterwards isnt that commercial whaling???

No, it is not. Would you rather they CAPTURE the whales and KILL them, then toss the carcass back in the ocean?

Because real SCIENCE IS CATCH AND RELEASE.

No. Some science is CATCH and KILL, depends on the animal, the environment and the data being collected.

So i guess whalers wont be satisfied till there are no more whales for our future generations to see alive and in their own habitat because they will have gone they way of the dinosaurs

All the whales species hunted by Japan have either stable or increasing populations. No sign of any threat that they will go the way of the dinosaurs due to whaling.

You can tell what something eats by what comes out in its waste. No need to kill it.

And if that was the only data they collect you would be right, but it isn't the only data they collect.

Whales are on the edge of extinction already

No, most whale species are far from extinction and have stable or increasing populations.

why should Japan have exclusive rights to it?

Who said they do have exclusive rights?

Over 100 countries gave up commercial whale hunting when the IWC was formed and banned commercial whale hunting in the early 80's.

The IWC has never had more than about 90 members and in the early 80's they had less than 30 members. So it doesn't make sense to claim over 100 countries giving up whaling was because of the IWC or their actions.

Show us this so-called "research."

They publish a list of all the research papers published. All you have to do is read them.

When Japan breaks laws

What law are they breaking?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

If all these so called anti-whalers are genuinely concerned about whale stocks and their welfare, they would be going after the biggest offender, Norway. Going after Japan's tiny quotas is weak and hypocritical and so can be dismissed easily as it shows there's no genuine concern for the welfare of whales.

If these so called anti-whalers go after Japan because they operate under a scientific whaling program, then they are implying they would accept Japan's whaling if they withdrew from the IWC, which would also then indicate they don't care whatsoever about the welfare of whales.

Both positions are weak and unsatisfactory. As an Aussie I used to be an ardent anti-whaler, but the hypocrisy is too much to bear now to continue this position. As long as millions of chickens and cows are slaughtered daily for burgers, I don't see any issue whatsoever in killing a few hundred whales a year

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

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