Tailing whalers

Here we go again. I have been back to the IWC site to verify the resolutions taken at the end of 2005. It makes a bit better sense to me now. The whaling in the Southern Ocean doesn't seem at all right, given it's a sanctuary and given we have lost so many whales here already and it is an acknowledged area where whales are in danger. I really do not understand why the Japanese want to scientifically research whales by killing them and so many of them, that's the thing. Seems to be an awful lot of whales and it's like they are trying to clear our oceans of whales. Why would you want to get whales out of the ocean?

Back to the IWC resolutions.

In this section it states quite clearly the recommendation that scientific research should be by non lethal means only. It also has some interesting figures on the amout of whales being harvested by Japan.


2005 Resolutions
The resolutions made at the IWC annual meeting in Ulsan, Republic of Korea 2005


"NOTING that the results of the JARPA program have not been reviewed by the Scientific Committee this year;

CONCERNED that more than 6,800 Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) have been killed in Antarctic waters under the 18 year of JARPA, compared with a total of 840 whales killed globally by Japan for scientific research in the 31 year period prior to the moratorium;

RECALLING that since the moratorium on commercial whaling came into force in 1985/86, the IWC has adopted over 30 resolutions on Special Permit whaling in which it has generally expressed its opinion that Special Permit whaling should: be terminated and scientific research limited to non-lethal methods only (2003-2); refrain from involving the killing of cetaceans in sanctuaries (1998-4); ensure that the recovery of populations is not impeded (1987); and take account of the comments of the scientific Committee (1987).

NOTING that it is the Government of Japan’s stated intention to more than double the annual catch of Antarctic minke whales and also take 50 fin whales (B. physalus) and 50 humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) under the proposed JARPA II program;

CONCERNED that there are no agreed data to indicate that endangered fin whale populations have increased since the cessation of whaling;

ALSO NOTING that some humpback whales which will be targeted by JARPA II belong to small, vulnerable breeding populations around small island States in the South Pacific and that even small takes could have a detrimental effect on the recovery and survival of such populations;

ALSO CONCERNED that JARPA II may have an adverse impact on established long-term whale research projects involving humpback whales;"


Then I looked at the permits Japan has been issued with:



Recent Japanese Scientific permits

"Only Japan has issued scientific permits in recent years. The 2004/5 Antarctic season (400±10% Antarctic minke whales) represents the final year of a 16-year 'JARPA' programme following a 2-year feasibility study. After completion of the JARPN programme in the North Pacific, Japan initiated a JARPN II programme, initially as a 2-year feasibility study, for 100 common minke whales, 50 Bryde’s whales and 10 sperm whales in the western North Pacific. In 2002, a full JARPN II programme was proposed involving the take of 150 common minke whales, 50 Bryde's whales, 50 sei whales and 10 sperm whales. The current permit (2004) is for 220 common minke whales, 50 Bryde's whales, 100 sei and 10 sperm whales."



Then I looked at the objectives of the scientific research:


Antarctic


The stated objectives of the programme (known as JARPA) are:

" 1. estimation of biological parameters (especially the natural
mortality rate) to improve management;

2. elucidation of stock structure to improve management;

3. examine role of whales in the Antarctic ecosystem;

4. examine effect of environmental changes on cetaceans.

Research activity now combines a randomised lethal catch (400±10% minke whales each year) with concurrent line-transect sighting surveys. Operations alternate each year between Area IV + Area IIIE (35°E-130°E) and Area V + Area VIW (130°E-145°W). The most recently agreed population estimates from independent surveys were for Area
IV in 1988/89 (74,700; 95% confidence interval 45,000 – 123,000) and Area V in 1985/86 (294,600; 95% CI 225,000 – 386,000). However, until a major reassessment is carried out in the next 1-2 years, the Committee agrees that it does not have current best estimates for Southern Hemisphere minke whales, noting that in some areas they may be appreciably lower. "


And at that meeting in late 2005 , the IWC did ask Japan to reconsider and use non lethal scientific research like other whale researchers.


"NOW THEREFORE THE COMMISSION:

REQUESTS the Scientific Committee to review the outcomes of JARPA as soon as possible; and

STRONGLY URGES the Government of Japan to withdraw its JARPA II proposal or to revise it so that any information needed to meet the stated objectives of the proposal is obtained using non-lethal means."


And while I'm here, governments were asked to do the following:


"CALLS upon range states to take all practical measures to avoid all anthropogenic mortality, and in particular to develop and implement strategies to prevent accidental deaths;

CALLS UPON all organisations concerned with oil and gas projects to take all practicable measures to ensure that received noise levels in the Piltun feeding ground are reduced to a minimum and are in accordance with any future recommendations of the IWC Scientific Committee;"

So why whale? The Southern Ocean cannot afford to lose that many whales at all and people need to learn to change as they have with other things.



IWC 2005 resolutions