Winter 2007/2008

In the past 21 years, since the International Whaling Commission mortatorium on whaling, an estimated 30,000 whales have been killed. The number of whales killed has increased annually. From 2004 to this year, nearly 8,000 whales will have been slaughtered.

This year's self-made whaling quotas from Japan ( 1,330*), Norway (1,052), and Iceland (70 Minke, 9 Fin) total over 2, 461 whales to be slaughtered. (Please note: More than that number will die, as whales that are wounded escape to die slowly, and will not be counted.) *Japan's quota includes 1070 Minke, 50 Bryde, 100 Sei*, 50 Fin* and 10 Sperm* whales, additionally 50 Humpback* whales (4 out of 6 of these species are listed as *Endangered.)

From Whalewatch.org:
"...calls are intensifying to protect whales from the cruelty of commercial whaling. Whalewatch, a coalition of over 140 non-governmental organisations in more than 55 countries, is calling for people to support its campaign to end commercial and so-called ‘scientific’ whaling."

December 2007 UPDATE: "Japan drops humpback hunt"
"Suspension for a year or two, but no change in stance on 'research whaling'...Despite the suspension of the humpback hunt, Japan still plans to take as many as 935 minke whales and up to 50 (endangered) fin whales in the Antarctic in what the Fisheries Agency says is its largest-ever scientific whale hunt. Japan also takes more minkes in the northern Pacific later in the year."

September 2007
Iceland’s whaling industry is facing a pivotal time in history. The Fisheries Minister said that he will not issue further quotas for commercial whaling until the market for whale meat improves. Together we can make Iceland sit up and take notice - let Iceland know that we will not rest until all whales around Iceland are protected forever from hunting.

http://wdcs-uk.org/e_campaigns/e_campaigns/campaigns.php?select=campaign4

To view "Join our anti-whaling campaign" video from WDCS (Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society), please click here

(Quicktime 7 is required, click here for free download)

IFAW's anti-whaling TV advertisement:

Write the U.S. Secretary of Commerce urging him to take the first step towards trade sanctions under the U.S. Pelly Amendment by certifying Japan for undermining the International Whaling Commission.

Please click here (or on logo).

Click here for The Humane Society of the United States report on IWC & CITES

Click here for CITES report
Reprieve for Whales

Click here for summaries and videos from the 59th Annual IWC meetings held May 2007 in Anchorage, Alaska

Spring 2004 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 full report and action from WhaleWatch.org

2007 Whaling Quotas:

Japan: 725 Minke, 50 Bryde, 100 Sei, 3 Fin,10 Sperm. 50 Humpback whales. (4 out of 6 of these species are listed as Endangered.)
"To increase supplies of meat even further, the Japanese government recently legalised the killing and sale of whales entangled in fishing nets. Predictably, this led to a five-fold increase in 'accidental by-catch' in just six months." (source: WDCS)

Norway: 1052 Minke whales

Iceland: 39 Minke whales

The Curtain of Origami Whales and Children's Whale Art and Activism Campaign

(please click on the origami whales)

photo courtesy of Paul Wellman

Would you like to receive e-mail alerts for actions regarding the topic of threats to whales & dolphins and their environment? If so, please contact Peggy Oki by clicking here, or on the "Contact" link above.

(The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, for information action whaling activities.)

"Japan under attack for inhumane Humpback (whale) deaths"

June 19, 2006 "AUSTRALIAN humpbacks face lingering deaths in the Japanese scientific hunt, where they will be harpooned with equipment little different from that used on much smaller minke whales...."

Please Click Here for information about the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

"Operation Ragnarök:
Defending the Whales of Iceland 2007"

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."

Tuesday, September 16, 2003
"Icelandic whalers have killed a minke whale in a whale watching bay, just south of Reykjavik, despite promises from the Ministry of Fisheries that the whalers would steer clear of whale watching areas." (reported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare)

SAMPLE LETTER to the Ambassador of Japan:

Ambassador Ryozo Kato

2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008

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

Honorable Ambassador of Japan, Ryozo Kato,

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,

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

WASHINGTON,

Monday, May 14, 2001 [Reuters]