Winter 2010


In the past 23 years, since the International Whaling Commission mortatorium on whaling, an estimated number of over 33,000 whales have been reported+ killed.

The quotas of whales to be slaughtered have increased annually.

In 2008, over 2,461 whales were targeted for slaughter in the self-made whaling quotas from Japan ( 1,330*), Norway (1,052), and Iceland (70 Minke, 9 Fin). *Japan's quota included 1070 Minke, 50 Bryde, 100 Sei*, 50 Fin* and 10 Sperm*, additionally 50 Humpback* whales (*4 out of 6 of these species are listed as Endangered.).

Norway recently announced an increase, by more than 45 percent, their whaling quota of 1,286 Minke Whales in 2010.

For the 2009 hunts, Iceland reported+ killing 125 Fin and 79 Minke whales.

A Summary of reported+ Whales Killed in 2009 Hunting Seasons for “Scientific” and Commercial Purposes
100 Sei*(Japan)
50 Bryde’s (Japan)
1 Sperm*(Japan)
126 Fin*(Iceland & Japan)
1,406 Minke (Iceland, Japan, & Norway)
= 1,686 TOTAL whales reported+ killed

* Species listed as Endangered.
+ Numbers NOT REPORTED: When considering the number of whales that die annually as a result of whaling, it is important to point out that there are numbers of whales that are "struck & lost", not “landed” or counted as “takes”, which suffer and die later. Whales that are "struck and lost", may live on after their injuries. But, as a result of infection, restricted mobility, shattered joints or damaged central nervous system, they may suffer an inability to feed, socialize or reproduce. The high proportion of struck, but lost, animals in some hunts is a serious welfare as well as conservation issue.

Also, not considered in reported Antarctic kills: "Most slaughtered whales 'pregnant'."
<<<<< Please take these actions in the lefthand column, needed to help whales.

26 Feb. 2010 "Japan to continue Antarctic whaling, to resume coastal takes"
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese fisheries ministry indicated Wednesday that the country's whaling for "research purposes" in the Antarctic Ocean will be continued, following a proposal by the International Whaling Commission.
4 Feb. 2010: "NZ may support whale killing deal"
"Long-running talks over the future of whales appear to have brought Japan closer to victory, proposing a deal to entrench its Antarctic whaling."
11 December 2009
Japan vows to carry on whaling:
"In a massive blow to anti-whaling activists, Japan's new centre-left government has vowed to continue its policy of scientific research whaling."		  

11 December 2009
"Japan uses humpback permit in talks"
 
"The Truth
about
'Traditional'
Japanese Whaling"

 
 
5 October 2009
"...Icelandic whalers have killed more than 200 whales so far since June, including endangered 125 Fin whales and 79 Minke whales."
June 2008 "Iceland exports fin whale meat to Japan"
"...60 tons of (Endangered) Fin whale meat has been ed to Japan from Iceland."
"Whales Still Largely Threatened"
"...majority of ...whales, dolphins and porpoises—are in decline, with some likely headed for extinction in the near term."
(Photos and information about Fin Whales)

27 Oct. 2009 Greenland whaling update from WDCS.org
"At the 61st annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in
June 2009, a vote on Greenland’s proposal to increase its aboriginal subsistence whaling quota by ten humpback whales a year was deferred"
22 June 2009 "Greenland wants to hunt humpback whales again"
(Ten Humpback Whales per year
over a 5 year period)
GOOD NEWS! ~ March 2009 • Please visit link at the left column of this page to thank the Prime Minister of Dominica
DOMINICA REINFORCES CARIBBEAN WHALE CONSERVATION
STOP JAPAN’S COMMERCIAL WHALING
"JAPAN’s commercial whaling industry has been dominated throughout history by three large companies—Maruha, Nippon Suisan and Kyokuyo"
 To view "Join our anti-whaling campaign" video from WDCS (Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society), please click here

IFAW's anti-whaling TV advertisement:

Global anti-whaling campaign launched:
With foreword by Sir David Attenborough, exposes the cruelty behind whaling.
A new report, 'Troubled Waters', is being released today to mark the launch of a global campaign against whaling. Key scientific and practical evidence is brought together for the first time to highlight the true extent of the cruelty inherent in the modern day killing of whales. More than 1,400 whales are expected to die this year alone. In his foreword, naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough describes how the report contains ".hard scientific evidence that there is no humane way to kill a whale at sea."
An unprecedented coalition of over 140 non-governmental organisations in more than 55 countries is taking part in the 'Whalewatch' campaign. It is lobbying the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to call a halt to all commercial and scientific whaling operations, maintain the current ban on commercial whaling and bring the issue of cruelty back to the fore.

Please click here for reports and action from WhaleWatch.org

Updated 13 Dec. 2009 Tell Japan to stop whaling.
SAMPLE LETTER to the Ambassador of Japan:

Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki

2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008

Tel: 202.238.6700
Fax: [1] (202) 328-2187

Honorable Ichiro Fujisaki,

I am writing to urge Japan to stop all whaling activities.

In 1994, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) established the Southern Ocean Sanctuary specifically to prohibit commercial whaling in the waters surrounding Antarctica. However, in November 1999, Japanese whaling vessels set out on their annual hunt of 440 minke whales and called it "scientific research", thereby circumventing the law. This "scientific research" netted 2000 tons of whale meat that was sold in retail markets for millions of dollars.

Many expert Cetologists worldwide, have established the study of whales by non-lethal methods. Therefore "scientific research" by killing whales is not justifiable.

I urge Japan to halt all whaling. The hunting of whales is in direct violation of International Whaling Commission resolutions prohibiting whaling.

Please let me know what you intend to do on this vital issue.

Sincerely,

 
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Contact California convenience store chain Famima!!
and tell them that you want their parent company in Japan to stop selling canned whale meat.
Please access this action link directly below the section Species in Peril:
Visit Dall's Porpoise, a website hosted by EIA and Campaign Whale, for updates on this unsustainable and inhumane hunt and tips on how to get involved.
Australia's Peter Garrett, Minister for the Environment, and PM Kevin Rudd have been taking a strong stance against the Japanese "scientific research" whaling and boldly opposed to the compromise proposed by the US. Please take a few minutes to write in support of their position to protect whales.

Please click here for a list of ACTIONS you can take.

TAKE ACTION:
Tell Caribbean countries of St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to stop supporting Japan's whaling.
2009 UPDATE & ACTION:
"Tiny island,
big on saving whales.
Take a minute to send a thank you letter to the Prime Minister of Dominica"
 
Learn how you can help whales through the Origami Whales Project

Click Here
to listen to the KCRW radio
(31 May 2007) online report
with interviews during the
60th IWC meetings in Anchorage, Alaska:
"The Global Politics of Whaling"

Wednesday, 1 November 2006

"Diplomats from 25 nations including Britain have delivered a letter of protest to Iceland's government over its resumption of commercial whaling."
"Japan has long been accused of vote-buying and bribery at the International Whaling Commission. Already, through exploiting the loophole of ‘scientific research’, it has dramatically increased the number and species of whales it kills. Now, it wants to overturn the decades long ban on commercial whaling. Our offering this week uncovers just how it intends to do so. Made for ABC 4 Corners the documentary film, "Japan - Whale Wars" (please click here) also reveals how the farcical rules of the IWC are open to manipulation and abuse.
2009 UPDATE: Please note, this video was produced before Dominica denounced Japan's bribery. Dominica is now committed to whale watching, not the killing of whales.

"Leave Endangered Whales Alone, U.S. Tells Japan"

WASHINGTON,

Monday, May 14, 2001 [Reuters]
 
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