Japan Might KILL the world's only White Whale

[diversteve]

This has to be stopped, it's senseless and there's no rational justification for it.

Japan might kill world's only white whale
By Nick Squires in Sydney
Last Updated: 3:01pm GMT 12/11/2007

Pictures/original article here:
Japan might kill world's only white whale - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/11/12/eawhale112.xml)

Australians fear that the world's only known white humpback whale could be slaughtered as Japan's whaling fleet prepares to embark on its annual hunt in the Southern Ocean.

The unique male whale, named Migaloo - an Aboriginal word for "white fella" - has become a celebrity in Australia since being spotted for the first time in 1991.

Each year Migaloo - along with thousands of other humpbacks - migrates from the icy seas of Antarctica to the warm shallows of the South Pacific and the Great Barrier Reef.

A few months later the whales, the females leading their newly-born calves, return to Antarctica.

The arrival of 45ft-long Migaloo - believed to be the only completely white humpback in the world - is keenly anticipated by whale watchers along Australia's east coast.

He has been hailed as modern day Moby Dick, even though the creature in Herman Melville's 1851 classic was a sperm whale.

Conservationists fear that Migaloo is so accustomed to whale watching and fishing boats, that he will be easy pickings for Japanese hunters.

With the southern hemisphere summer approaching, the Japanese whaling fleet is preparing to leave port within days. It refuses to say exactly when.

It has declared that for the first time it will kill 50 humpbacks, as well as 50 fin whales and hundreds of minke whales.

The Japanese argue that after decades of hunting fin and humpback whales have recovered to sufficient levels that they can now withstand being harpooned again.

The Fisheries Agency in Tokyo refused to rule out killing Migaloo today, with officials offering a blunt "no comment" to media inquiries.

Instead the agency called on Australia and New Zealand to ensure that the Japanese fleet would be protected from anti-whaling ships operated by a militant environmental group, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. <-Link to Operation Migaloo. (http://www.seashepherd.org/migaloo/)

Last year Sea Shepherd threatened to ram the Japanese fleet with a ship fitted with a bulldozer-type blade. The group has been branded environmental terrorists by Tokyo.

"Those two countries maintain the same position as Japan does against the violent action of terrorists," spokesman Hideki Moronuki told ABC Radio.

"[We] need support from those two countries in order to secure the safety of our crews and (our ships)."

But the captain of Sea Shepherd's two vessels, Paul Watson, said he had the law on his side because whale hunting was illegal.

"They're targeting endangered species in a whale sanctuary in violation of a global moratorium on whaling.

"If Japan reacts violently to us, causes any injury at all to any of our people, that will backlash very severely on Japan because Japan is the criminal nation here," he said.

Japan uses a loophole in International Whaling Commission laws to hunt around 1,000 whales each year in the Southern Hemisphere, ostensibly for the purposes of scientific research.

People who have encountered Migaloo on his epic journey of migration describe the sight as a once in a lifetime experience.

"He turned the blue water around him jade-green for two or three metres," one awe-struck Australian whale-watch operator said of a sighting two years ago.

Scientists are uncertain whether Migaloo is a true albino, or simply has white pigmentation.

In a sign of how healthy the population of humpbacks has become, a female and her calf paid a short visit to Sydney Harbour today.

The pair was noticed entering the harbour from the sea by passengers on a passing ferry and spent about three hours in sheltered waters before continuing their journey south.

[zen_man]

Steve,

Thank you for sharing this information, even though it highly upsets me. I get so mad at people for being so ignorant and selfish when I see something like this, but I know the only way change will eventually occur is sharing these atrocities to the public.

[aubie85]

Thanks Steve for posting this.

Wow. What other bad things are we going to hear about Japan? I was set off by the whole dolphin ordeal.(http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/marine-life-ecosystems/208747-dolphin-slaughter-japan.html)

Why don't they just fish out the entire f'n oceans? There, I said it, this really is going too far. Okay, I know what some of you will say, and I can predict that some of you will roll your eyes. I am sure that it isn't only the Japanese doing this(however, they may be among the largest violators), so I suppose we cannot point fingers. I know this is not a perfect world, and it never will be, but I wish that for one f'n day, all of the countries in the world could just unite and realize that the world is at stake if we ALL don't start to change our ways? What is the purpose of this? Tradition? Greed? Whaling and fishing(dolphins) such beautiful and docile creatures cannot be the ONLY way to make money. Can we at least spare the LAST white humpback whale: Migaloo?

[demonic_death]

"Scientific Research"???? Have the Japanese published anything useful to the whole world in general on their whale research? And after understanding the mindset of the dolphin hunters, I would like to ask the people here who understand the Japanese as to why they need to kill these whales for research purposes.

If the demand for whale meat isn't large, then what do these people( Norway folks included ) want to happen? Kill every last sea mammal until they are all extinct?

Kudos to Paul Watson for his excellent work. Call it illegal or harsh, but at least he is doing what he can to help the whales.

[demonic_death]

Additionally, I do hope that the Australian and New Zealand government will not do anything to help the whalers, but support the Sea Shepherd instead.

[deeper thoughts]

"Scientific Research"???? Have the Japanese published anything useful to the whole world in general on their whale research? And after understanding the mindset of the dolphin hunters, I would like to ask the people here who understand the Japanese as to why they need to kill these whales for research purposes.

If the demand for whale meat isn't large, then what do these people( Norway folks included ) want to happen? Kill every last sea mammal until they are all extinct?

Kudos to Paul Watson for his excellent work. Call it illegal or harsh, but at least he is doing what he can to help the whales.

Based on Japans track record this doesnt surprise anybody but wait someone will post thats its a "scientific or "cultural" decision:popcorn:

[ianr33]

I'm all for conservation people, let's just have conservation in balance...mmkay?


So you think whales should be hunted ?

[Hoosier]

Any movement to send some meat or fish to Japanese yet?

Even, they are consuming 1/4 of world Tuna consumption every year. They are reaping the whirlwind due to the recent price jack up and its depletion. In 2006, Japan admitted they had illegally caught too many of one type of tuna, and were punished by having stricter limits on their catch.

[almitywife]

Additionally, I do hope that the Australian and New Zealand government will not do anything to help the whalers, but support the Sea Shepherd instead.

i wouldnt hold my breath..... :shakehead:

[demonic_death]

Cultural thing?

Then does that mean Japan and Norway share the same culture? Japan isn't the only country that loves to kill whales for no good reason.

Ok, so if it is scientific, then what substantial research that will benefit the whole world have they done with the whale carcasses?

I am asking these hoping that someone can shed some light on the enemy. After all, you have to know your enemy in order to win the war.

Tuna is a different story though. They are eaten in japanese restaurants all over the world, both raw or cooked. So that at least has an understandable reason.

And with the whales multiplying so much that they become pests? Puhleeze. Whales do not live/poop/eat in your backyard like the geese do.

[lock_washer]

Another interesting note (I am just a storehouse of information)...there is an albino sperm whale calf in the Azores Sea. It was in an issue of National Geographic.

Also, there is a humpback-blue whale calf hybrid swimming around in the South Pacific. There's a picture somewhere of a diver snorkeling with it. Pretty cool looking...it looks like a blue whale with humpback whale pectoral flippers.

[Oside Jimc]

Then does that mean Japan and Norway share the same culture? Japan isn't the only country that loves to kill whales for no good reason..

It was upsetting being in Norway last May and seeing a whaling vessel in Lysoysund. When we commented about it to our Norwegian host his response was "Well humans are depleting the bottom of the food chain so we need to harvest whales to balance it", please, worst excuse EVER, I guess halting the rape of the ocean is not an option?.

[Mr.X]

It was upsetting being in Norway last May and seeing a whaling vessel in Lysoysund. When we commented about it to our Norwegian host his response was "Well humans are depleting the bottom of the food chain so we need to harvest whales to balance it", please, worst excuse EVER, I guess halting the rape of the ocean is not an option?.

Not an especially "nice", nor informed host. One would hope his manners were better on shore! :11:

[deeper thoughts]

apan's whaling fleet was set to leave port Sunday for its biggest-ever scientific whale hunt in the South Pacific, the government fisheries agency said.

The whalers have orders to kill up to 50 humpback whales — the first known large-scale hunt for the species since a 1963 moratorium put humpbacks under international protection.

The new hunt is certain to renew Japan's angry standoff with anti-whaling forces. Greenpeace and the animal rights activist group Sea Shepherd have said they will track the South Pacific hunt.

Four ships including the lead craft, the 8,044-ton Nisshin Maru, were set to leave Sunday morning from the southern port of Shimonoseki, said a news release from Japan's Fisheries Agency.

Two observation boats left northern Japan on Wednesday, the agency said.

Along with the humpbacks, the 239-member mission that runs through April will also take up to 935 Antarctic minke whales and up to 50 fin whales in their largest scientific whale hunt ever held in the South Pacific, according to a report Japan submitted to the International Whaling Commission earlier this year.

But it is the plan to hunt the humpback — a favorite among whale-watchers for its distinctive knobby head, intelligence and out-of-the-water acrobatics — that has triggered environmentalists' condemnation.

"These whales don't have to die," said a Greenpeace spokesman, Junichi Sato. "Humpbacks are very sensitive and live in close-knit pods. So even one death can be extremely damaging."

Humpback whales were hunted to near-extinction four decades ago. They have been off-limits since 1963, except for a few caught under a subsistence program by Greenland and the Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Each caught one humpback last year, according to the International Whaling Commission.

The former Soviet Union defied the ban and hunted humpbacks until 1973. It is disputed how many were killed.

Scientists say humpback whales are complex creatures that communicate through lengthy "songs."

Although they grow up to 48 feet long and weigh as much as 40 tons, they are extremely acrobatic, often throwing themselves out of the water, swimming on their backs with both flippers in the air, or slapping the water with their tails.

The American Cetacean Society estimates the global humpback population at 30,000-40,000 — about a third of the number before modern whaling. The species is listed as "vulnerable" by the World Conservation Union.

Japanese fisheries officials insist, however, that the animals' population has returned to a sustainable level.

"Humpback whales in our research area are rapidly recovering," said the Fisheries Agency's whaling chief, Hideki Moronuki. "Taking 50 humpbacks from a population of tens of thousands will have no significant impact whatsoever."

He said killing whales lets marine biologists study their internal organs. Ovaries provide vital clues to reproductive systems, earwax indicates age, and stomach contents reveal eating habits, he said.

Meat from Japan's scientific catch is sold commercially, as permitted by the IWC, but Japanese officials deny that profit is a goal.

Japan also argues that whaling is a tradition in its country that dates back to the early 1600s, and Tokyo has pushed unsuccessfully at the IWC to reverse the 1986 commercial whaling moratorium.

Environmentalists claim that Japan's research program is a pretext for keeping the whaling industry alive.

Japan accuses activists of "environmental terrorism." After its last Antarctic hunt, the government released video of protesters launching smoke canisters from a Sea Shepherd ship and dropping ropes and nets to entangle the Japanese ships' propellers.

"We call them terrorists because they engage in blatant terrorism," Moronuki said. "We don't want violence. ... All Japan wants is to find a sustainable way to hunt a very precious marine resource."

Environmentalists have long campaigned for an end to the winter catch in the Southern Ocean and a North Pacific mission that kills about 100 minke whales a year.

Scientists note that humpbacks migrate to the southern seas from breeding grounds around the world.

"Some breeding grounds are not recovering to the same extent as others," said whale biologists Ken Findlay at the University of Cape Town. "While the catch may be small, we're not sure where they come from. That's a real concern."

Environmentalists also are critical of the harpooning methods Japan's fleet uses. Ships sometimes chase wounded whales for hours, Findlay said.


Save the carbon but kill the whales and dolphins

[demonic_death]

"He said killing whales lets marine biologists study their internal organs. Ovaries provide vital clues to reproductive systems, earwax indicates age, and stomach contents reveal eating habits, he said."


I may be stupid, but I still do not understand how having this information can benefit the world in general. It would have been more justifiable had they found evidence that these whale carcasses can cure AIDS or cancer.

And Japan did admit that they commercially sell whale meat. If it is not for profit, then why sell it in the first place? Environmental terrorists? Look who is talking.

And tradition? I don't think what is applicable in the 1600s is applicable in our time.

Things they are saying really do not add up.

So, rants aside, what can ordinary people like us do to stop them? I am all for donating cash to the defenders such as greenpeace and the sea shepherd... may the members of their tribe increase a hundred fold....

[wardric]

I may be stupid, but I still do not understand how having this information can benefit the world in general.

following your tought process, same thing could be said about the majority of the ecological studies... and astronomical ones... etc.

I would never give cash to these organizations. I just dont believe in them for too many reasons. I suggest you do your part by trying to do things to preserve the whales environment, coz by trying to save a hundred whales, if we let their environment deteriorate, we'll kill the rest of em'. Lower your energy consumption, recycle, be more eco-friendly and vote for people who believe in it.

In the St Lawrence, we had a huge population of belugas. They are dissappearing rapidly, not by hunting which is not allowed but because of pollution. People were putting energy to save the ones that were dying on the shore but didn'T do anything about the pollution. Yeah, they saved a few... that survived for a while... but finally died anyway out of contamination by toxic pollutants.

[MikeFerrara]

In the St Lawrence, we had a huge population of belugas. They are dissappearing rapidly, not by hunting which is not allowed but because of pollution. People were putting energy to save the ones that were dying on the shore but didn'T do anything about the pollution. Yeah, they saved a few... that survived for a while... but finally died anyway out of contamination by toxic pollutants.

Good point. In general, loss (or deterioration) of habitat is probably the biggest threat to wildlife.

[diversteve]

No offense Mike, but going after a defenseless Humpback whale with an explosive harpoon puts a different slant on the definition of "sportsman"...

I don't have a problem with the Native American tribe in the PNW who take several whales a year as is their custom. I wouldn't have a problem with an indigenous people in Japan doing something similar.

But taking over 1000 whales total for "Scientific Research" is a blatant lie. If it really was non-profit research, they would dispose of the carcasses in a non-commercial way. It's all a sham perpetrated by the corporation that owns and runs the whaling fleet. And it is a commercial processing operation, equipped with multiple chase boats - not a scientific research vessel.

CNN just showed the whale ship leaving port. There were streamers in the air like it was a cruise ship departure. Don't try to tell me that wasn't staged for the cameras by the corporation or the Fisheries Agency...

[diversteve]

I did a little further digging and discovered the sponsoring organization that this "Research" takes place under:

Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR, 日本鯨類研究所 Nippon Geirui Kenkyūsho) is a Japanese privately owned, non-profit institution. It grew out of the Whale Research Institute (founded 1947) which in turn was an off-shoot of Nakabe Scientific Research Centre (founded 1941). The Whales Research Institute obtained its scientific data from commercial whaling. ICR was established in response to the 1986 IWC moratorium on all commercial whaling. It has absorbed ships, crew and equipments of a whaling company which now look after the sale of whale meat from the institute. It is often claimed to be a front for the commercial whaling industry by whaling critics. It is funded by ex-whaling organisations and the Japanese government.
If it looks like a commercial whaling outfit, uses their equipment and is funded by ex-whalers what else do you call it? And ICR is funded by a for profit company.

Whaling critics accuse the institute of being a cover for Japan's commercial whaling industry. They point to the fact that it is funded by Kyodo Senpaku, a for-profit company that conducts the collection, processing and selling wholesale of the whale specimens on behalf of the research institute. The IRC is also subsidised by the Japanese government. Kyodo Senpaku sells roughly US$60 million worth of whale products each year. In 2005 Japan increased its whale catch vastly undertaken by the IRC, still claiming it was for scientific purposes; Professor Toshio Kasuya, of Teikyo University of Science and Technology in Japan said in the Mainichi Shinbun newspaper “This is nothing other than an economic activity. It leaves no room for researchers to carry out research based on their own ideas.
I suppose that $60 Million has no impact on their eagerness to continue their illegal operations though...

Go Captain Paul...

[MikeFerrara]

No offense Mike, but going after a defenseless Humpback whale with an explosive harpoon puts a different slant on the definition of "sportsman"...

Commercial hunting and fishing isn't usually very sporting. We eat lots of criters that are harvested from the sea. From what I've read and heard, many of those fisheries are either strained from over fishing or the harvest poses other threats to the environment.


I don't have a problem with the Native American tribe in the PNW who take several whales a year as is their custom. I wouldn't have a problem with an indigenous people in Japan doing something similar.

We have similar issues all over. Do some reading on the spearing of spawning walley pike in Wisconsin by native americans. The practice is permitted because of a treaty that dates back almost 200 years. There was a big stink over it back in the 80's.



1000 whales total for "Scientific Research" is a blatant lie. If it really was non-profit research, they would dispose of the carcasses in a non-commercial way. It's all a sham perpetrated by the corporation that owns and runs the whaling fleet. And it is a commercial processing operation, equipped with multiple chase boats - not a scientific research vessel.

CNN just showed the whale ship leaving port. There were streamers in the air like it was a cruise ship departure. Don't try to tell me that wasn't staged for the cameras by the corporation or the Fisheries Agency...

I don't know if it's a sham or not. I don't know if any laws are being broken or if it makes sense to harvest any wales from a conservation point of view. I do know that private citizens attacking them at sea sounds more like piracy than conservation. Don't they hang pirates?

[KOMPRESSOR]

What's with the white whale? Is it somehow more worthy than the black ones since this one is lifted up as a symbol? Or do we have a well orchestrated PR campaign going? Of course, if this species of whales are in danger they should be protected. This white individual just doesn't really have anything to do with it, except for drawing people's attention off the issue.



Cultural thing?

Then does that mean Japan and Norway share the same culture? Japan isn't the only country that loves to kill whales for no good reason.

Eh... Practical problem! How else would we get the excellent meat from the mink whales then? Should we start whale farms in our fiords? Maybe even give them steriods to put on weight faster, like US cattle? We're pretty good at farming salmon, but I doubt this is much the same. Anyways, others seem to want our excellent salmon off their markets, since they can't compete on either quality or price.





If the demand for whale meat isn't large, then what do these people( Norway folks included ) want to happen? Kill every last sea mammal until they are all extinct?

Kudos to Paul Watson for his excellent work. Call it illegal or harsh, but at least he is doing what he can to help the whales.


If he shows up around here he'd be arrested an prosecuted, rightfully. Sinking boats isn't helping much, on anything. And over here it's even illegal...


_____________________________________________

Feelings, people. You're deep into it. What's next? Moose and deer hunting? Should we stop that too? What about goose hunting? I don't know... I knew a vegetarian once. He never looked well as long as I knew him. So I eat fish three times a week and meat four times. Even whale meat sometimes, but it's expensive nowadays.



(OK, you can start throwing them rotten eggs at me now. I'm hiding...)

[Blind]

I wish i had a MIG or something so i could scuttle the *******s on there way down south. No mercy for that.

[bvmjethead]

So you think whales should be hunted ?


Yes I do.

[demonic_death]

I think the best thing for this thread is to keep it on topic. Stop mentioning other animals in depth except for whales in this particular thread.

If there are plenty of geese in Canada, I'm sure animal control in your area has a way to stop them from becoming pests to the people who live there.

True, we need to stop polluting as these will kill the sea creatures faster than anything.

Whaling is really conducted for profit, since it is extremely stupid to kill thousands of them for non profit reasons. Other scientific research do not massacre lots of creatures just to obtain weight, reproductive and earwax data.

Minke whale meat? Why do we have to eat it all the time? We are not starving to death that we have to resort to eating whales! I am not saying that we have to be vegetarians, but hey, we do not have to kill thousands of whales just to eat! A person will not die of malnutrition if he doesn't eat whale meat for his entire life!

Some people might disagree with what the environmental groups are doing, but maybe that is the best thing to do( feel free to suggest if anyone sees a better way), given that some governments will not change their minds despite all the protests/petitions the world is shouting at them.

Refer to the dolphin slaughter thread in this forum. The posters there who have lived in Japan had learned that you cannot just step into their country and tell them what they can and cannot do. So, what is the most effective way to stop this?

[KOMPRESSOR]

I think the best thing for this thread is to keep it on topic. Stop mentioning other animals in depth except for whales in this particular thread.

If there are plenty of geese in Canada, I'm sure animal control in your area has a way to stop them from becoming pests to the people who live there.

True, we need to stop polluting as these will kill the sea creatures faster than anything.

Whaling is really conducted for profit, since it is extremely stupid to kill thousands of them for non profit reasons. Other scientific research do not massacre lots of creatures just to obtain weight, reproductive and earwax data.

Minke whale meat? Why do we have to eat it all the time? We are not starving to death that we have to resort to eating whales! I am not saying that we have to be vegetarians, but hey, we do not have to kill thousands of whales just to eat! A person will not die of malnutrition if he doesn't eat whale meat for his entire life!

Some people might disagree with what the environmental groups are doing, but maybe that is the best thing to do( feel free to suggest if anyone sees a better way), given that some governments will not change their minds despite all the protests/petitions the world is shouting at them.

Refer to the dolphin slaughter thread in this forum. The posters there who have lived in Japan had learned that you cannot just step into their country and tell them what they can and cannot do. So, what is the most effective way to stop this?


WHAT makes species of whales so much different than other mammals to you? If you guys succeed with preserving all whales, what's next on your list? Seals? Moose? Those pretty deers in our woods? Why should we let YOU decide WHAT and NOT for us when we can decide for ourselves? Please note that I do not take a stand pro what's going on down south, with the species of whales the Japanese are after now. I personally think it's much to early to go after humpbacks. I do NOT think the population can support hunting them over some time and therefore it may be wrong. (I don't know this, I just THINK so...) But the thread title doesn't even MENTION that this is about humpbacks. -Just that it's about ONE WHITE WHALE!!!

Yes, I suppose all whaling is about profit, like fisheries, and meat farming other places. At least it is here where I live. The demand for mink whale meat is present and large. It's even much healthier than red meat, so why on earth should we rule it out as food when the mink whale population definitely can support what we're taking? IF the mink whales should deminish then we'll stop right away, but they're growing in numbers as we speak.

If you want any kind of sympathy for you cause over here, the least you can do is to put some hand cuffs on Mr Watson and fly him over here, together with that pretty lady of his and others from Sea Sheperd who took part in sinking several boats and endangering several people's lives. To actively support them after doing this is as provocative to us as giving moral support to Al Quaida in public. How far do you think you'll get that way, really?

[ManTeeRay]

Don't you think that the state of the marine eco-system has declined enough, due to worldwide complacency, that we ought to be fairly zealous in our conservation efforts until we can undo or reverse some (most) of the damage that has been done?

I agree with wardric that repairing their environment is the most important quest to saving these animals, but, doesn't depleting select portions of the fish and marine mammal population (Whales, Sharks, Dolphins etc.) directly affect this environment as a whole?

Would we even be having this discussion if, for lack of a better term, "greed" hadn't already started pushing many marine species to the brink of distinction? This isn't about people hunting Whales or fishing for survival as they have/had for hundreds of years it's about a few making a lot money.

Maybe violence and piracy isn't the best way to solve the problem but, what is? Did you all read the article about Sharkwater in Fathoms magazine (and others)? As long as there's enough money being paid to the right people such as the Japanese Government and the Coastarican (spelling?) Government and there are pigheaded people out there that will pay $100 for a bowl of Shark fin soup (sorry slightly out of context for the Whale thread but, I don't know how much inappropriate Whale dishes go for) there is going to be a problem which eventually affects all of us.

[Mr.X]

My Norwegian hosts were extremely nice with excellent manners (Norway is one of my favorite places to visit). They just expressed an opinion I do not personally agree with. But I find it possible to disagree without becoming disagreeable (and to behave any other way would make me an ungrateful guest).


True in one sense. There are roles that guest and host play - be polite, be honest, be informed, communicate - walk away with some understanding(s).

As an American delegate to Japan's Ocean Expo 75' we found ourselves consistently thwarted at every point from expressing opinion, or having dialog related to the condition of the whales. Diversion, re-scheduling events, blocking others from hearing about it - you name it. It was quite hypocritical of the Japanese government to invite people from all over the world to take part in forums related to ocean understanding, but pin them into corners to speak only on pre-determined "fluff" topics.

Heavy metal pollution, overfishing and involvement of poorer nations were given short shrift. In other words, the government put lipstick on the pig and sold the idea of technology. On a positive note, I did learn a lot about Komatsu underwater bulldozers and self-contained cities at sea (Aquapolis). Lipstick.

The take-away message I got is that you have to speak up for yourself, and sometimes take a definitive stance. It's quite clear that the Japanese government does not give a _____ about world opinion, or facts. Given a chance, the harvesters will strip the planet of shared resources. This has happened with Bluefin Tuna and certainly with whales during the 50's/60'/70's.. Additionally, we also know that they are more than happy to let their citizens eat meat which is tainted with heavy metals.

What amazes me is that a great many folks don't seem to understand that communication and diplomacy haven't worked with the Japanese. They will do what they want to do. Given the facts and the Japanese stance - what would you do? Stand around and shake our collective heads? The AUSSIES and KIWIs' have certainly made their position known. It's too bad other nations like the US stand mute in a corner.

X

[MikeFerrara]

REad about good old Paul Watson. From Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (http://www.activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/oid/347)


Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
P.O. Box 2616, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Phone 310-456-1141 | Fax 310-456-2488 | Email seashepherd@seashepherd.org



“We’re not a protest organization, we’re a policing organization,” Paul Watson has said of his Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS). A pirate organization is more like it. Sporting the skull and crossbones, his black or battleship-gray ships sail menacingly through the waves. They are painted with the names of the boats Watson has rammed and sunk.
The ships are fitted with water cannons, a concrete-filled bow made for ramming, and an attachment dubbed the “can opener” that can tear open a boat’s hull. In his book Earth Warrior, David Morris writes that Watson wears a long bowie knife at his side and carries AK-47s on board. He blasts Richard Wagner’s rousing “Ride of the Valkyries” to herald his arrival and terrify his victims.

SSCS’s mission is to stop fishing of which it disapproves. Its preferred methods? Ramming and sinking fishing ships, throwing butyric acid on their decks, and firing machine guns. Watson argues that United Nations resolutions authorize him to commit violent acts. But he regularly interferes with fisherman and hunters who are committing no crime. He serves as judge, jury, and executioner -- while enjoying the same tax-exempt status as universities and churches.

Some of the animal-rights movement’s most notorious terrorists got their start with SSCS. One of them, convicted arsonist Rodney Coronado, had Watson’s approval to plan and execute an attack on Iceland’s whaling industry. He and a colleague sank two of the fleet’s four ships and destroyed a processing facility....continued.

[bvmjethead]

I do appreciate cheez and your sense of drama. You're free to state your opinion. However, let me remind you that it was your prior comments (on a parallel thread) incited some to respond with anger - resulting in a closed thread. Your popcorn emoticon suggested intent, not to mention the incendiary nature of your post(s).

Either or, the topic of this thead is about whales. You've stated your opinion - pro-whaling. Any science behind that opinion? Or is this opinion as flighty as your feeling about geese?

X


I ask again, why the veiled hostility and outright namecalling?

And yes there is science to my opinion. You wouldn't agree with it and I'm not here to change your mind, just show another viewpoint.

Have a nice day.

[Hockeynut]

So how many humpbacks are there and is 50 a big deal?

[NWGratefulDiver]

So how many humpbacks are there and is 50 a big deal?

According to a prior reply ... The American Cetacean Society estimates the global humpback population at 30,000-40,000 — about a third of the number before modern whaling. The species is listed as "vulnerable" by the World Conservation Union.


So to answer your question ... killing 50 humpbacks is statistically equivalent to killing about 75,000 humans ... no big deal.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[diversteve]

IF the mink whales should deminish then we'll stop right away, but they're growing in numbers as we speak.Except that history has shown that you won't.

Hence the whaling ban that your country so conveniently ignores.

You know, the one signed by all the other civilized nations in the world...

[diversteve]

So how many humpbacks are there and is 50 a big deal?One is a big deal.

Ever seen one in person? Or seen a 35 ton mother encourage her 2 ton calf to interact with the funny looking small things in the wetsuits.

You wouldn't be asking this question...

[KOMPRESSOR]

Except that history has shown that you won't.

Hence the whaling ban that your country so conveniently ignores.

You know, the one signed by all the other civilized nations in the world...


Sorry to correct you, but history shows WE DID. -For many years. Since there were doubt about just how many mink whales there were. It was only when we were confident that there was ENOUGH to sustain a healthy population that we took up the industry again.

And I am very certain we would again, if it should come to that. In the late 60's we learned an important lesson when we simply wiped out most of the herring population in our waters. We simply didn' know what was going on until it was to late. It affected to whole fish population, since our atlantic cod depends on the herring as a food source. We are simply not going to do such a mistake again. Our biggest problem in the fishing industry now are the Russians, the Portugese, the Spanish fishery fleets. Maybe I forgot some...

There's no international market for [our] whale products. It's all sold in our own country, and we're 4.6 million people. Most of us not eating whale meat even. And we don't even take enough to support this small market. Of course those involved in the industry, we're talking small individual boat owners here, not a large industry, would like to see us able to export to Japan. -The only possible market. So far it hasn't been possible, and I'm quite happy with that so we can keep this on a small scale.

[diversteve]

Sorry to correct you, but history shows WE DID. -For many years. Since there were doubt about just how many mink whales there were. It was only when we were confident that there was ENOUGH to sustain a healthy population that we took up the industry again.

And I am very certain we would again, if it should come to that. In the late 60's we learned an important lesson when we simply wiped out most of the herring population in our waters. We simply didn' know what was going on until it was to late. It affected to whole fish population, since our atlantic cod depends on the herring as a food source. We are simply not going to do such a mistake again. Our biggest problem in the fishing industry now are the Russians, the Portugese, the Spanish fishery fleets. Maybe I forgot some...

There's no international market for [our] whale products. It's all sold in our own country, and we're 4.6 million people. Most of us not eating whale meat even. And we don't even take enough to support this small market. Of course those involved in the industry, we're talking small individual boat owners here, not a large industry, would like to see us able to export to Japan. -The only possible market. So far it hasn't been possible, and I'm quite happy with that so we can keep this on a small scale.
I stand corrected. And thanks for explaining your position. Still wish your country would stop whaling though. I don't see the need to have started up again after the last time you stopped.

For me it's not about the economics - I just have a problem with killing such beautiful apex creatures for food when alternatives obviously exist. That includes any whale.

And the taking of close to a thousand Minke whales annually by the Japanese would seem to have a bigger effect on the resulting whale population.

[KOMPRESSOR]

Mr Watson and his gang are nothing but a bunch of criminals, breaking laws and risking people's lives, and then running off without having the guts to face the consequences. Mr Watson claims he is likely to be killed by the whaling mafia in a Norwegian jail, were he likely will end up after our corrupt courts have sentenced him to jail for life...

Heck, he'd more likely get 60 days in an open facility, with cable TV and four good meals a day, IF they manage to pin it on him in person.

[demonic_death]

Kompressor,

Thanks for clarifying your country's stand on whaling. Most of us here hate the fact that Japan is doing this for profit, without a care in the world for anything else.

It is true that the Japanese public should be educated regarding whale meat consumption. So, is there anyone here who lives in Japan? Care to enlighten us on how the Japanese public feels about this? Is whale meat a huge demand here?

With regards to the dolphins, the other thread with regards to the dolphin slaughter talked about educating the remaining fishermen in Taiji in order for dolphin killing to be a thing of the past. It took one brave fisherman in Futo to turn the tide around the dolphin industry in that area, by being the dolphin watching pioneer, despite the heavy opposition.

Now, the money involved in the dolphins is nowhere near the $60 million that the whales bring in. Given that we can write to the conservationists in Japan, is there anything else we can do? Again it is ok to take some, but don't be too greedy as to take so much to the point of depletion.

[Sadamune]

Mr Watson and his gang are nothing but a bunch of criminals

Inflammatory nonsense. Stick to the thread's topic, Japanese whaling and the potential slaughter of the white humpback.

Sadamune

[bvmjethead]

Inflammatory nonsense.

I think not. Mr Watson and his gang are thugs and their soon demise will testify to it. Taking the law into your own hands is RARELY the right thing to do.


Stick to the thread's topic, Japanese whaling and the potential slaughter of the white humpback.

Sadamune

"Japan might KILL" and "potential slaughter" both sound more like inflammatory nonsense that stating facts based on Mr. Watsons past criminal activity.

Reason? Glad you asked!

Mr. Watson and his gang HAVE committed crimes in International waters, Japan has not killed the worlds only white Humpback whale.

[Teamcasa]

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