Japan to continue to push resumption of commercial whaling

And the majority of the world will continue to push back against the resumption of commercial whaling.

The facts demonstrate there is little demand for whale products.

And exactly why? I don't see Japanese eating whale fish anyway, apart from the occasional izakaya dish. Who behind pushing this whaling agenda so much?

The only reason why they will continue to push for something that just about everyone else is against, is ONLY because other countries are telling Japan no.

Sad part though is that the world is unwilling to sanction Japan for whaling, if they would, there might be a change here!

Chip StarToday 06:55 am JST

And the majority of the world will continue to push back against the resumption of commercial whaling.

There are 195 countries on this planet. Of which only 98 are members of the IWC. Among those 41 voted against, and 27 for. With 2 abstaining. I don't see how you can claim "the majority of the world". The "majority of IWC members" would be accurate.

The facts demonstrate there is little demand for whale products.

The only thing that is demonstrated is that there is little demand for whale products in anti-whaling nations, which is kind of obvious. If there is little demand in whaling counties then natural supply and demand will dictate whether whaling will continue or cease.

 The "majority of IWC members" would be accurate.

Point well made, and duly noted. Thanks for the correction.

. If there is little demand in whaling counties then natural supply and demand will dictate whether whaling will continue or cease.

This is true in a truly free market, but does not hold up in a market that receives subsidies.

Why is it that nobody is concerned about the sea lions being killed and put into cans in Hokkaido?

1.

Moronuki said whaling should not be an exception to the rules of sustainable use of fisheries resources.

> 2.

Japan annually consumes about 5,000 tons of whale meat from its research hunts, Moronuki said.

> 3.

He declined to say whether a country with an aging and shrinking population can develop a sustainable whaling industry if it returns to commercial hunts.

No reasons to back up this statement

Straight up lie! Japan may very well catch over 5,000 tons of whale meat, but it is not consumed

Avoiding a relevant point to support Japanese commercial whaling

The IWC will never agree to let Japan hunt whales for profit. The IWC will never change to a 50/50 voting system. Japan will never be able to buy enough votes to get a 50/50 majority. If Japan leaves the IWC and starts hunting whales commercially in the southern oceans they will be deemed poachers under international law. This will also mean their ships can be confiscated and scuttled. “Go ahead! Make my day!”

"If we give up achieving the sustainable use of marine life resources, including whales, Japan will encounter serious difficulties in food security," he said at a news conference in Tokyo.

Meanwhile Japan waste 6 million tons of food every year.

Bah, there's no reason to resume whaling. There's nothing worth it.

The only reason why they will continue to push for something that just about everyone else is against, is ONLY because other countries are telling Japan no.

exactly

Sad part though is that the world is unwilling to sanction Japan for whaling, if they would, there might be a change here!

They don't even have to do that...OZ and NZ can threaten to leave the TPP and end visa free travel for Japanese citizens .That's all they need to do.

But instead, they don't put their money where their mouth is and we are stuck in this eternal merry go round like a bad episode of the Twilight Zone.

Trade transcends politics.

Maybe time to get Donald on the case...he seems to be the only one to get J-govt asking how high? when he says " jump".

Brilliant Idea brother!! Brilliant!

Another Diplomatic coup for Japan.

The smug look on his face highlights his belligerent attitude on this issue. Symbolic of the whole Japanese stance on whaling. Cultural stubbornness, nothing more. Sad part is, it's not even a part of Japanese 'culture' as the brainwashed like to believe. Just sad.

Moronuki said whaling should not be an exception to the rules of sustainable use of fisheries resources.

Japan now has a world-wide reputation as the country that is very much NOT qualified to talk about sustainable fisheries...

The "majority of IWC members" would be accurate.

no different if your a registered voter or not , if you dont register to vote then your opinion doesnt count or you dont have any views on the topic. As it stands the majority of IWC members dont support whaling. This represents world opinion on whaling, majority of the worlds countries support or not. As many democratic elections in various countries show you dont need outright support of the population just outright support of those that vote, in some countries not even that

If there is little demand in whaling counties then natural supply and demand will dictate whether whaling will continue or cease.

thats just the problem for whaling to be economically viable they need to be caught in large numbers, its unlikely people would be able to consume it all so itll likely be turned into pet/livestock food, Japan has been caught trying to do this in the past. Whaling has never been sustainable when theyve been caught in large numbers, history is proof of that.

https://www.news.com.au/world/meat-from-endangered-whales-used-for-dog-treats-in-japan/news-story/cdafc50425215c76042b2a170cd5a9db

Flogging a dead something. Thinking...thinking...

Japan must be one of the few countries in the world that has the courage of their convictions strong enough to run the gauntlet of criticism and abuse that is perennialy being hurled at them by the self appointed environmentalists, save the earth aficianados and radical conservationists--not to mention the operators of whale watching businesses who craftily and hypocriticaly jump on the "Save the Whale" wagon--just to make money!

*Japan now has a world-wide reputation as the country that is very much NOT qualified to talk about sustainable fisheries...*

Japan wants sustainable whaling, anti-whaling countries want a total ban.

poachers

I could do me some poached whale and eggs for breakfast actually, thanks for the idea!

I'm cool with sustainable whaling.

I'm against unsustainable whaling.

Pretty middle of the road, ain't I?

Immediately stop the funding for whaling and let's see what happens. Divert that wasted tax-money and use it for something much more necessary, ie., those hit by disaster areas.

They don't even have to do that...OZ and NZ can threaten to leave the TPP and end visa free travel for Japanese citizens .That's all they need to do.

Mmm. Potential tourists from a country of 130 million v potential tourists from a combined population of 30 million. Not a great strategy is it? I think you can keep the threat on ending free visa travel. Do you want Australia to be even more reliant on Chinese tourism that can be withdrawn in a second? Might want to ask Australia's tourist authorities first before putting that idea forward. Not to mention an awful lot of Aussies take advantage of 90 day free visa travel to Japanese snow fields.

I just wish this issue would go away as a thorn in the side of Japan & Australia relations, but it doesn't seem like its every going too. Perhaps when Japans population drops further, like the 30% decline by 2060 predicted that it becomes increasingly clear commercial whaling on any scale makes no financial sense.

commercial whaling on any scale makes no financial sense.

On any scale?

Wishful thinking probably, even tiny places like Norway and Iceland have people eating their whales.

The other day I was poking around at Google trends actually, plugged in whaling.

Seemed like outside of the antipodeans no one cares much about the matter.

Opponents say Japan's research whaling is a cover for commercial whaling because the whale meat is sold for food.

Research whaling and the selling of the whale meat are required by IWC.

The smug look on his face highlights his belligerent attitude on this issue.

To me, he looks crying.  I saw the entire press conference.

Research whaling and the selling of the whale meat are required by IWC.

No. There is no requirement at all in Article 8 that the meat be sold.

Article 8 states: *Any whales taken under these special permits shall so far as practicable be processed and the proceeds shall be dealt with in accordance with directions issued by the Government by which the permit was granted.*

The whales are not 'processed': most of the animal is slung overboard once the stomach has been slit open for the cameras and the prime bits of meat sliced off for freezing.

Oh, and apparently they also save a few phials of sperm to try and make test-tube baby cow-whales.

Gotta do some 'research', after all.

https://science.slashdot.org/story/08/03/13/1710223/japans-unique-cowwhale-hybrid-experiments

This is true in a truly free market, but does not hold up in a market that receives subsidies.

And the subsidies that whaling currently gets are to conduct research. It is speculative if and at what level they would continue if the moratorium were lifted. But the scientific sustainability of whaling on certain species is a separate question from the economic of sustainability of whaling.

If Japan leaves the IWC and starts hunting whales commercially in the southern oceans they will be deemed poachers under international law. This will also mean their ships can be confiscated and scuttled. “Go ahead! Make my day!”

No they won't be deemed poachers. The IWC is a voluntary organization with no enforcement powers. A country that isn't part of the IWC (like Canada) can legally whale all they want as long as it isn't in the national waters of another country. So confiscating their ships would be a violation of international law. I hope I made your day.

As many democratic elections

The IWC isn't a democracy.

The whales are not 'processed'...the prime bits of meat sliced off for freezing

That sure sounds like 'processed' "so far as practicable" "in accordance with directions issued by the Government by which the permit was granted."

My Western ancestors engaged in the whale hunts, but I confess to being disgusted by this practice. I remember Dad saying that he had eaten whale in the past.

Mmm. Potential tourists from a country of 130 million v potential tourists from a combined population of 30 million. Not a great strategy is it?

then don't bother making a stink about whaling in the first place

I think you can keep the threat on ending free visa travel. Do you want Australia to be even more reliant on Chinese tourism that can be withdrawn in a second? Might want to ask Australia's tourist authorities first before putting that idea forward. Not to mention an awful lot of Aussies take advantage of 90 day free visa travel to Japanese snow fields.

Fine. Then OZ needs to shut up about whaling and let the Japanese get on with it.

I just wish this issue would go away as a thorn in the side of Japan & Australia relations, but it doesn't seem like its every going too.

Agree.

Perhaps when Japans population drops further, like the 30% decline by 2060 predicted that it becomes increasingly clear commercial whaling on any scale makes no financial sense.

Its already clear that it makes NO financial sense- doesnt matter how much the population drops

then don't bother making a stink about whaling in the first place

Fine. Then OZ needs to shut up about whaling and let the Japanese get on with it.

I personally think Australia just get on with protecting its maritime sanctuaries with full naval power at hand.

I personally think Australia just get on with protecting its maritime sanctuaries with full naval power at hand.

Agree with you.

I personally think Australia just get on with protecting its maritime sanctuaries with full naval power at hand.

Their legitimate sanctuary has no whaling taking place so more power to them.

To do so in their illegitimate sanctuary would be in direct violation of numerous international laws and would probably lead to the collapse of the Antarctic Treaty. Leading to widespread economic exploitation of resources in and around Antarctica.