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December 21, 2007

Humpback whales win temporary reprieve from Japan's killer harpoon

Leo Lewis in Tokyo

Buckling under mounting international pressure and passionate criticism from Australia, the Japanese whaling fleet has called off its hunt for endangered humpbacks.

The humiliating U-turn comes as the Japanese fleet was understood to be only days away from catching its first humpback whale for more than 40 years. The climbdown follows a threat by Australia that it would consider taking Japan to an international court in an effort to stop all hunting.

The whaling ships set sail from Shimonoseki in late November and the Japanese authorities astonished activists across the globe by revealing that as well as the usual annual catch of minke whales, they were hoping to land around 50 humpback and fin whales for the first time since the 1960s.

Japan has grown accustomed to drawing the implacable fury of conservationists for its determination to hunt whales but the decision to hunt humpbacks unleashed an unexpected wave of condemnation.

The Government of Australia, which has been the most vocal in its attack on the Japanese whalers, upped the ante earlier this week when it said that it would deploy a fisheries patrol vessel to spy on the whaling fleet.

Australia said that it would also fly a commercial aircraft over the Southern Ocean to photograph the Japanese fleet as it conducts its hunt.

The pictures, some believe, could provide sufficient evidence to build a court case against whaling.

Previous sabre-rattling on the issue has included hints from Canberra that the Australian military may be brought in to patrol the whaling grounds of the Southern Ocean.

Nobutaka Machimura, the Japanese Government’s chief spokesman, said on Friday that the pursuit of humpbacks would be suspended while talks to reform the International Whaling Commission were under way. The issue has already entered the realm of high diplomacy, with Mr Machimura expressing the hope that the antipathy over whaling would not harm relations between Tokyo and Canberra.

Masahiko Komura, Japan’s Foreign Minister, yesterday repeated Tokyo’s position that the hunt was in line with international treaties. “I would like to speak with [Australia’s] Foreign Minister in some form soon,” he said. “We will try to seek each other’s understanding.”

The surprise decision will not, however, put a stop to Japan’s traditional annual hunt for minke whales: plans to land a record haul of 1,000 minkes remain unaltered.

Also unaffected is Japan’s staunch defence of the hunt as scientific — a euphemism that exploits a legal loophole and in effect allows commercial whaling to be undertaken on a grand scale.

Before yesterday’s U-turn Japan argued that whale stocks were easily large enough to survive a cull of the size it was planning. Estimates by the American Cetacean Society suggest a worldwide population of between 30,000 to 40,000 humpback whales: the World Conservation Union places the species two rungs below the highest risk of extinction.

Japan’s position on whaling, say government insiders, stems from a dread of having its activities on the high seas dictated by the outside world.

Among the biggest concerns is that if it concedes too much ground on whaling, the activists’ next target will be Japan’s tuna fleets.

Humpback whale

15m maximum length

20-40 tonnes

35,000 estimated stock

35% of pre-industrial population

Source: American Cetacean Society

Many countries, which used to have a tradition of hunting whales, have stopped whaling. There is no excuse to carry on killing the endangered species just for keeping a tradition. Japan too should turn her aim on solving the problems when crude oil runs out, and when the African continent turns into desert, and AIDS threatens the developed world.

Henry Sun, Huntington Beach, CA, U.S.A.

Whaling has been a tradition in Japan for hundreds of years as evidenced by many historical reports and illustrations. The number of whales and their sustainability is as much in the interest to the whalers as it is to the people who try to prevent it. If being "humane" is the issue, then every country has its own unresolved matters. When crude oil runs out, and when the African continent turns into desert, and AIDS threatens the developed world, people will realise that their emphasis has been wrong all the way.

Getty, Tokyo, japan

I wonder if there were only 40 000 japanese left, whether they would want us to protect them to the best of our ability?

paul, london,

How long are we humans going to exploit,not just these beautiful humpback whales,but also,the rest of our animals on this earth? What about the majestic elephants,the precious little seals,the Siberian Tiger? And these are just some of the animals on our planet being exploited for our selfish,greedy,needs and wants.The population has exploded,but there are many other ways to feed us.Not only do we kill the animals but we destroy their habitat,for political,and monetary gains.Thank God, the aussies were able to stop this,if only for a while.If we could all stand as one we could stop alot of other needless killings as well. What makes it so bad, is we have ships,guns,ways that do not give the whales a chance to escape. In the old days,before modern weapons,men had to go out and hunt for their food with only spear or harpoon. The killed to feed their family,it was either the animal or them. Now,the animals do not stand a chance,and for what? Monetary gain! Makes me ashamed to be human.

Brenda gartman, Ketchikan, Alaska

I don't like Japan's whaling, but Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands also whale. The attacks on Japan seem to be racist. Especially since the Japanese use every part of the whale, whle the Europeans waste most of the whale, and just make oil. The Australians are hunting dingos to extinction, and they leave the bodies to rot.

David Carruthers, Sussex, UK

after reading these comments i notice i am not pro-whaling,but find myself rather anti some of antiwhaling people whose ideas are absolutely naive and heroic.

kanzo, kyoto , japan

Well done, Australia, for taking a strong stand. Where is my own government (UK) in all this? I want to stand up alongside The Aussies!
p.s. Please consider supporting Greenpeace if you feel strongly enough. I'm on my way to their website right now to make a pledge. How about you?

Max , London,

Well that's some good news for the time being, but the pressure will obviously need to be maintained on an annual basis. Maybe the Aussies can also influence Canada to stop their barbaric seal cull? Seems no one else can...

Phillip Anderton, Poole, England

I am a chinese
I believe most of the chinese people would not agree with what japanese people do , i really appreciate what Australian government have done to stop them from hunting such beautiful creatures.
Also, I think more countries should step out and cooperate tostop this if this happen next time.
Well done Australians !

Chung Hei Yeung, Newcastle,

Well done Australia for having the guts.
Personally, I have banned all Japanese goods in my household until all their whaling activity stops.
I just hope none of my gadgets break down.!

Ken, Bedford, UK

Well done Austraila,

If only other Commonwealth Countries would do the same.

Robert, London, UK

The political correct class has taken control in Australia. They completely ignore scientific facts, which say that it is possible to hunt the hump back whale, and ponders to the view of the green lobby, which used the cuteness factor of the whale to increase their standing in societ. They still do.

Tor BjÃ¸rgulv aasen, Drammen, Norway

Yes, well done Australia! A great country which stands up for what it believes in. Sending a fisheries protection vessel down to the Artic to shadow the Japanese whaling fleet, plus a threat to take Japan on in the international courts is concrete proof of action and intention not just words and hand wringing.

John, Walton on Thames,

Thank you Australia!

neo, Jerusalem , Israel

A glorious victory that Australian government take its international effect to beat the shame!

Breathing, Cixi, China

Aussies are the worst hypocrites who blame Japanese whaling while they are eating tons of kangaroo meat everyday.
This is the issue of white people's racism against Japanese.

Getty, Tokyo, japan

I'm sorry, but when was the last time any valuable 'scientific' results were published about the whales - except maybe determining what the easiest way is to slaughter them and make a nice little profit. I think that if the Japanese were allowed to perform their scientific research, but none of the whale was in any way allowed to be shipped to Japan in any shape or form, we'd see a significant drop in the 'research' that these guys are performing.

I find it interesting that they feel such a strong desire to research these animals which they cannot even find in their own waters. God I wish the australian military would go out and fire a couple of shots. We'd send the NZ one, but it only consists of a small inflatable raft, an outboard motor, and two paintball guns.

Darryl, Hamilton, New Zealand

I am glad to see that the new Australian Government has taken direct action against Japan for whaling. My country's present govenment would do nothing. Japan arguements of a culture that must whale for tradition makes no sense at all. 70 years ago Japan used that same arguement to invade and inslave China. Times have changed and even Japan has to change.

Jeffrey, Athens, USA Ohio

Well done Aussies! I echo the comments from Jane below.

Rob, London,

Instead of buying a Japanese car the way we have for 25 years, I am seriously researching American cars. I think a Cadillac CTS will replace the luxury Japanese car that I had my heart set on. Our silent economic protest of Japanese research policy is our only weapon to help protect the whales. I will vote with my pocketbook and hope others will join me.

Joyce, Honolulu, USA

Just because the humpbacks are off the murder list both the NZ & Australian Governments should still take legal action over the many illegal acts committed by Japan in murdering whales in large numbers. They have broken every agreement they have signed and are in breach of treaties, laws, regulations etc. No wonder one atomic bomb was not enough in 45.

David Head, Napier, Aotearoa -NZ

If the order was given to blow the whaling ships out of the water the world would have applauded.
Australia and New Zealand would have been hailed.
Conservation and Green issues must take precedence over human life; if we haven't got a habitable planet everything else is pointless.

Keith Bentham, Wigan, Lancashire

W Sellar, Cockermouth, UK

Japan's whaling is permitted by IWC.
What's the problem?
Why do you all moan?

Getty, Tokyo, japan

As a Japanese national, I've been embarrassed by this issue for a long time. Many Japanese people are deceived by the propaganda of the government and whaling industry, which claim that the whaling is our tradition. In reality, it had been foreign to most common people until whale meat was introduced as one a solution to the severe malnutrition after WWII. Now Japan is one of the richest countries, so we don't need to rely on whale meat any more. There is no point we preserve this "tradition" by introducing untraditional menu like "whale burger" in order to attract younger customers. I want the world community keep putting pressure on the Japanese government and liberate Japanese people from the mind control.

Hisawo, Taipei, Taiwan

Lets' get this issue closed once and for all, whaling is not acceptable, that's it, globally! Stop allowing political inaction, based on corporate collusion, an avenue to yet another extinction........

Well Done Australia!!!

Colin, Uttoxeter, Stafford UK

It is refreshing to see our country stand up and be counted for an issue other than sports. We don't like whaling.

Paul Francis, Brisbane, Australia

People of the world are not resolute enough, we should get together and use people power and stop buying Japanese cars for a year or until they stop. Let us stand behing the Greenies.

Dave Madley, Poole, Dorset, England

Good on ya Auzzies. Nice to see that one country, at least, is willing to do more than pay lip service to the issue of whale conservation.

Joseph, Co. Cork, Ireland

All I can say is thank you Australia!

Cedric Van Dorpe, Kortrijk, Belgium

Well Done Australia!

(By the way, where were you, Gordon Brown?)

Peter, London,

Peter & Vivienne, the rest of the world is with you on this. We in the UK have a pretty poor conservation record, but we are struggling to improve it - this sickens us.

Emma Hoskisson, Carterton, Oxfordshire

thank you Australia from my heart

marina, Roma, Italia

Well done OZ, shame on everyone else for failing to condemn this barbaric practice.

ANDREW THOMAS, Poole, Dorset

We all should boycot Japanese products until they stop all forms of whaling, its not their right to deprive the rest of the world these great creatures. As for the Tuna stocks they will soon run out if they and other countries pesist in the high level of catches.

martin, leeds, uk

I like a lot of things about Japanese culture, but I hate the fact
that when they think there is a national issue to be supported, they become pathological liars. First there was the forced prostitution of Chinese, Korean, Malaysian and Philippino women by the Japanese imperial army , the so called "comfort women," that was denied by the Japanese for about three generations. And now they offend wholesale the intelligence of the people of this planet by claiming they hunt whales for scientific purposes. How about some public honesty? How about openly admitting to the world that they are fanatic whale blubber eaters? The world has waken up and tries to save the planet. And the Japanese
had better constrict their blubber appetite and join in the
effort or become the planet's pariah state.

Nikos Retsos, River Grove, U.S.

"The government of Australia is being intimidated by their economic power. " By Vivienne from Melbourne.

I think it might be the Japanese government that is being intimidated by Australia, a country which supplies Japan with a massive chunk of the resources they themselves lack....such as iron ore, coal, grain, meat, cotton, the list goes on and on and on

Kornelis, Adelaide, Australia

Japans tradiotion of whaling actually extends from immediately after the second world war ... it is not a tradion which extends over centuries ...

marke, houston, usa

Huge credit needs to go to Australia on this issue. It's about time someone spoke up. This loophole is so ridiculous and bizarre - I mean, you couldn't make it up. There's no point in having laws if they are easily worked around; Let's see what Scientific basis Japan can provide on this matter - I should imagine very little. This isn't the dark ages - It needs sorting once and for all.

Matthew, Epping, UK

I find myself in two minds about this on the one hand you've got to respect a culture's traditions but i also feel it's very cruel to kill these beautiful and magnificent animals.

What needs to be done would be scientific research to get an estimate of population size and density and then using that knowledge to give adequate whaling quotas.

However this will provide a problem for most anti-whaling groups who have an almost fanatical zeal when it comes to any such compromise, ass we all know a good comprimise leaves everybody miserable!

Darragh, Greystones, Ireland

I live in italy and after I red this i checked in the italian newspaper to see if it has been reported. They say that Italy was one of the countries that supported this battle. I don't beleve it. Australian threat is credible. Disappointed voices from other countries are not enough to make this shame stop. This is the only way to fight.

marina, Roma, Italia

Nice to know thw Australian government was willing to take such a strong stand against the senseless killing of some of the worlds most beautiful creatures. The only disgusting thing is that other countries- with arguably more international political clout- have failed to take a stronger view on this issue. well done Aussies!

Jane, London,

Thank god we still have people to work for us with brain.

marshal, bangalore, india

This is great news.

Justin, Nr. Lincoln, UK

Keep it up Canberra! Where is the rest of the world on this issue?

Peter James, Auckland , NZ

It is admirable that at least one government is so passionate about protecting a species. This lobbying, however futile, is still more than whatâ€™s being done about the hunting of sharks for their fins than happens on an even bigger scale than whaling.

Sheldon Trollope, , Singapore

Any court could validate that this slaughter has no scientific basis. Where is all the data? Real science needs to be done on living whales. Saving the humpbacks is just the beginning. Killing in a whale sanctuary is illegal, and the fleet should have been removed when they first came with harpoons, not now! The government of Australia is being intimidated by their economic power. Unless the whale sanctuary is upheld from poachers, there is no protection for these magnificent mammals.

Vivienne, Melbourne, Australia