I feel we're far past the point where we need to kill animals to research them. Sure it was necessary in the days of John James Audubon (A shotgun was one of his most important tools) or even in Ed Rickett's days when they fried the fish after they studied them. Especially with a species so large and easy to track as whales are.
Have a think how many of these published research articles from the last 3 years could have been written by sticking radio probes on whales. I look forward to seeing the equivalent research list from Sea Shepherd to advance our knowledge of these creatures.
Fujihira, T., Kobayashi, M., Hochi, S., Hirabayashi, M., Ishikawa, H., Ohsumi, S. and Fukui, Y. 2006.
Developmental capacity of Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) vitrified oocytes following in vitro maturation, and parthenogenetic activation or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Zygote 14: 89-95.
Honda, K., Aoki, M. and Fujise, Y. 2006.
Ecochemical Approach Using Mercury Accumulation of Antarctic Minke Whale, Balaenoptera bonaerensis, as Tracer of Historical Change of Antarctic Marine Ecosystem During 1980-1999. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 76: 140-147.
Iwanami, K., Mita, H., Yamamoto, Y., Fujise, Y., Yamada, T. and Suzuki, T. 2006.
cDNA-derived amino acid sequences of myoglobins from nine species of whales and dolphins. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 145:249-56.
Kobayashi, T., Amemiya, K., Takeuchi, K., Tsujioka, T., Tominaga, K., Hirabayashi, M., Ishikawa, H., Fukui, Y. and Hochi, S. 2006.
Contribution of spermatozoal centrosomes to the microtubule-organizing centre in Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). Zygote 14(1): 45-51.
Konishi, K. 2006.
Characteristics of blubber distribution and body condition indicators for Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). Mammal Study 31: 15-22. Abstract and PDF, J-STAGE Link
Mori, M. and Butterworth, D.S. 2006.
A first step towards modelling the krill-predator dynamics of the Antarctic ecosystem. CCAMLR Science 13: 217-277. PDF, CCAMLR Science Link
Nikaido, M., Hamilton, H., Makino, H., Sasaki, T., Takahashi, K., Goto, M., Kanda, N., Pastene, L.A. and Okada, N. 2006.
Baleen whale phylogeny and a past extensive radiation event revealed by SINE insertion analysis. Molecular Biology and Evolution 23(5): 866-873. Abstract and PDF, Molecular Biology and Evolution Link
Yabuki, T., Suga, T., Hanawa, K., Matsuoka, K., Kiwada, H. and Watanabe, T. 2006.
Possible Source of the Antarctic Bottom Water in the Prydz Bay Region. Journal of Oceanography 62(5): 649-655.
2007
Asada, M., Tetsuka, M., Ishikawa, H., Ohsumi, S. and Fukui, Y. 2007. Ultrastructural
Changes during Maturation and Cryopreservation of Follicular Oosytes of Antarctic Minke Whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). Japanese Journal of Zoo Wildlife and Medicine 12(1): 51-66.
LeDuc, R.G., Dizon, A.E., Goto, M., Pastene, L.A., Kato, H., Nishiwaki, S. and Brownell, R.L. 2007.
Patterns of genetic variation in southern hemisphere blue whales, and the use of assignment test to detect mixing on the feeding grounds.J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 9(1): 73-80.
Nagai, H., Mogoe, T., Ishikawa, H., Hochi, S., Ohsumi, S. and Fukui, Y. 2007. Follicle
Size-Dependent Changes in Follicular Fluid Components and Oocyte Diameter in Antarctic Minke Whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). Journal of Reproduction and Development 53(6): 1265-1272.
Nishida, S., Goto, M., Pastene, L.A., Kanda, N. and Koike, H. 2007.
Phylogenetic Relationships Among Cetaceans Revealed by Y-Chromosome Sequences.Zoological Science 24(7): 723-732.
Onbe, K. Nishida, S., Sone, E., Kanda, N., Goto, M., Pastene, L.A., Tanabe, S. and Koike, H. 2007.
Sequence Variation in the Tbx4 Gene in Marine Mammals?E?EI>Zoological Science 24(5): 449-464.
Pastene, L.A., Goto, M., Kanda, N., Zerbini, A.N., Kerem, D., Watanabe, K., Bessho, Y., Hasegawa, M., Nielsen, R., Larsen, F. and PalsbA,ll, P.J. 2007.
Radiation and speciation of pelagic organisms during periods of global warming: the case of the common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata. Molecular Ecology 16: 1481-1495.
2008
Ishikawa, H. and Shigemune, H. 2008.
Comparative Experiment of Whaling Grenades in the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit (JARPA and JARPN). Jpn. J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 13(1): 21-28.
Konishi, K., Tamura, T., Zenitani, R., Bando, T., Kato, H. and WallA,e, L. 2008.
Decline in energy storage in the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) in the Southern Ocean. Polar Biol: 31: 1509-1520.
Yunoki, K., Ishikawa, H., Fukui, Y. and Ohnishi, M. 2008.
Chemical Properties of Epidermal Lipids, Especially Sphingolipids, of the Antarctic Minke Whale. Lipids (2008) 43: 151-159.