Is Japan in Deep Water over Whales?

Whales have hardly had it easy. There are a number of things contributing to their worsening endangerment. And now, it’s been revealed that Japan have been adding to the problem. With a whaling summit upcoming, Japan are expected to receive criticism on an international scale. So what exactly have they done?

Finding the root of the cause

Unfortunately for conservationists, there isn’t just one reason whales are having a hard time. Overfishing diminishes their food supply, pollution harms both them and their prey, and the likes of boating and offshore construction damages their natural habitat. However, if one problem had to be chosen as the worst, it would be commercial whaling.

For some time, whales have been hunted and caught for their oil, meat, and even bones. Modern whaling is usually for meat alone, and because of the rapid enhancement of technology, it is a huge problem. While catching a whale used to be a mammoth task, it’s now comparatively straightforward, leading to an increasing rate of whale killings.

International summit

The International Whaling Conference (IWC) takes place every other year. In 2016, it will be held in Slovenia, marking thirty years since they placed a historic ban on commercial whaling. Its purpose was to increase whale stocks, and since the ban, it’s estimated over 100,000 whales have been saved.

So what about Japan? They’ve been hunting whales for ‘scientific purposes’. They think hunting whales for research could lead to a solution for sustainable hunting. But in the past, their ‘scientific whaling’ has been exposed. The international court of justice determined that the practice was not scientific and they were told to stop. Since they resumed the process in 2015, they have already killed over 300 minke whales, with some even pregnant.

Fighting a losing battle

Japan are one of the three main pro-whaling nations along with Iceland and Norway. They all want special conditions, or at least a compromise and have done since the ban was put in place. Loopholes like ‘scientific research’ are one of the ways they have been getting by. However, with several pro-conservationist countries queuing up to rebuke their actions, it looks like those loopholes might be about to change.

The bigger picture

Problems facing whales are just one part of a spectrum of issues facing the world’s seas. With climate change looming, energy potential unharnessed and an insecure food supply, there is a need for greater research into our oceans. ‘Making Waves’ explores how technology and cutting-edge marine science can pave the way in a variety of areas including conservation.