IWC Criticisms of Japan's Scientific Whaling
The IWC has passed numerous resolutions criticizing Japan's scientific whaling, with no apparent effect. The criticisms include statements that the Japanese research is not required for management purposes, and that taking of whales within the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is a matter of great concern.
At the 2001 meeting, the IWC passed a Resolution stating that the data gathered
on interactions between whales and prey species were not sufficient to justify
the killing of these whales for research purposes.
The following resolution, from the 1997 Annual IWC meeting, is a typical example:
" ...the Commission: AFFIRMS that the JARPA programme does not address critically important research needs for the management of whaling in the Southern Ocean; REAFFIRMS that Contracting Governments should refrain from issuing Special Permits for research involving the taking of whales in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary; REITERATES ITS DEEP CONCERN at Japan's continuing scientific programme involving the taking of whales in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary; STRONGLY URGES that the Government of Japan, in the exercise of its sovereign rights, refrain from issuing any further Special Permit for the take of any whales, particularly in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary; INSTRUCTS the Scientific Committee not to consider Southern Hemisphere minke whales in the context of implementation of the RMP unless advised to do so by the Commission. [IWC Resolution 1997-5 (RIWC 48; 47)]
At the same meeting another resolution was passed, reiterating the request "that the Government of Japan reconsider and restructure its research programs so that research objectives are achieved by the use of non-lethal techniques."
Such Resolutions have been passed on repeated occasions, but Japan still persists with its scientific whaling programme, a fact that the IWC "regrets" in a 1998 resolution.
In the same resolution, the IWC notes the "grave concerns of eminent members of the international scientific community over the continuation of lethal whale research programs", and cites a letter sent by these individuals in which they maintain that:
"... moral and ethical issues are properly raised when a single research programme results in over 2.500 cetaceans being killed over eight years, with the prospect of another eight years to come, and whale meat and other whale products resulting from lethal scientific whaling are being sold in commercial markets, while a moratorium on commercial whaling remains in force."
This moral dimension was stressed by the New Zealand delegate of the IWC at the 1998 meeting:
"I said last year that a so-called scientific whaling programme that had by that time killed nearly 3,000 whales and that had a further eight years yet to run and whose results were not required for the management purposes under the RMP was not acceptable. 440 dead whales later I repeat that comment. There is no need to kill whales in order to research them. Adequate non-lethal means are available. ... Scientists ... are never guided by science alone, we all have laws and other dictates that also govern their work and behaviour. In short ... they must be guided by a moral compass as well ..." (1998 IWC Verbatim record).
At the 52nd Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (3-6 July 2000), the IWC once again passed resolutions criticizing Japan's scientific whaling programme.
One resolution addressed the issue of Japan's whaling in the North Pacific, and concluded that the Commission:
"AFFIRMS that gathering information on interactions between whales and prey species is not a critically important issue which justifies the killing of whales for research purposes; PROPOSES that information on stock structure, which may be relevant to management, be obtained by using non-lethal means; STRONGLY URGES the Government of Japan to refrain from issuing special permits for whaling under JARPN II."
The second resolution criticizes Japan's whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary, noting that: "The Scientific Committee this year considered all estimates of Southern Hemisphere minke whale population sizes which have been made available since 1990, and concluded that these estimates were "appreciably lower" than the estimate of 760,000 accepted by the Scientific Committee in 1990."
It concludes by requesting that: "... the Government of Japan refrains from issuing any Special Permits for the 2000/2001 season for the take of minke whales in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary."
The following resolution, from the 1997 Annual IWC meeting, is a typical example:
" ...the Commission: AFFIRMS that the JARPA programme does not address critically important research needs for the management of whaling in the Southern Ocean; REAFFIRMS that Contracting Governments should refrain from issuing Special Permits for research involving the taking of whales in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary; REITERATES ITS DEEP CONCERN at Japan's continuing scientific programme involving the taking of whales in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary; STRONGLY URGES that the Government of Japan, in the exercise of its sovereign rights, refrain from issuing any further Special Permit for the take of any whales, particularly in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary; INSTRUCTS the Scientific Committee not to consider Southern Hemisphere minke whales in the context of implementation of the RMP unless advised to do so by the Commission. [IWC Resolution 1997-5 (RIWC 48; 47)]
At the same meeting another resolution was passed, reiterating the request "that the Government of Japan reconsider and restructure its research programs so that research objectives are achieved by the use of non-lethal techniques."
Such Resolutions have been passed on repeated occasions, but Japan still persists with its scientific whaling programme, a fact that the IWC "regrets" in a 1998 resolution.
In the same resolution, the IWC notes the "grave concerns of eminent members of the international scientific community over the continuation of lethal whale research programs", and cites a letter sent by these individuals in which they maintain that:
"... moral and ethical issues are properly raised when a single research programme results in over 2.500 cetaceans being killed over eight years, with the prospect of another eight years to come, and whale meat and other whale products resulting from lethal scientific whaling are being sold in commercial markets, while a moratorium on commercial whaling remains in force."
This moral dimension was stressed by the New Zealand delegate of the IWC at the 1998 meeting:
"I said last year that a so-called scientific whaling programme that had by that time killed nearly 3,000 whales and that had a further eight years yet to run and whose results were not required for the management purposes under the RMP was not acceptable. 440 dead whales later I repeat that comment. There is no need to kill whales in order to research them. Adequate non-lethal means are available. ... Scientists ... are never guided by science alone, we all have laws and other dictates that also govern their work and behaviour. In short ... they must be guided by a moral compass as well ..." (1998 IWC Verbatim record).
At the 52nd Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (3-6 July 2000), the IWC once again passed resolutions criticizing Japan's scientific whaling programme.
One resolution addressed the issue of Japan's whaling in the North Pacific, and concluded that the Commission:
"AFFIRMS that gathering information on interactions between whales and prey species is not a critically important issue which justifies the killing of whales for research purposes; PROPOSES that information on stock structure, which may be relevant to management, be obtained by using non-lethal means; STRONGLY URGES the Government of Japan to refrain from issuing special permits for whaling under JARPN II."
The second resolution criticizes Japan's whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary, noting that: "The Scientific Committee this year considered all estimates of Southern Hemisphere minke whale population sizes which have been made available since 1990, and concluded that these estimates were "appreciably lower" than the estimate of 760,000 accepted by the Scientific Committee in 1990."
It concludes by requesting that: "... the Government of Japan refrains from issuing any Special Permits for the 2000/2001 season for the take of minke whales in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary."
;)
Minke whales about to be flensed onboard the Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru during a Japanese whale hunt in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary. Photo © IFAW
