Whale hunting in Japan
Through a research project, Japanese scientists have caught 35 minke whales. The research program is supposedly to study whales migratory and eating habits. Many critics say that it is just a way to disguise commerical whaling. Since commercial whaling has been banned, many countries have been trying to lift that law. Whaling has always been a very controversial issue, and for one I think it should always be banned. Whales are such majestic creatures that seem to have enough issues with keeping their populations up. Minke whales alone are having a population drop because of a lack of food, like anchovys, in their area.
Japan has had plans to catch over 1,070 minke whales in total throughout 2006. I think that is an astonishingly large number, especially for a species whose total population is unknown. I can’t even imagine what great results people would get from commercial whaling…I think that whales are one animal that is definitely best left alone. Fortunately, ending the ban to commerical whaling would take a 75% majority vote of the committee, and that seems not likely to happen very soon. But if Japan can sneak around the ban like they are now–what else is there to do?
Picture: www.wikimedia.org
Articles: www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaling
www.enn.com
I agree with you in that I think whaling should be banned. After all, certain species of whales are endangered as it is - they don’t need to be extracted from the water for some research project. I think they should develop other ways of researching that doesn’t involve killing the whales.
Posted 1 year, 9 months agoWhaling should be banned. I am not really sure about the whole research thing. Couldn’t they study the whales why they were in their natural habitat. The killing of the whales is totally unnecessary.
Posted 1 year, 8 months agoI agree with everyone’s opinion: Whaling should be banned. Is there any REAL need for whales? I know that we use their blubber for things such as candles, soap, some forms of fuel, etc., but can we really not provide these things without whales? I think that there needs to be better enforcement of these whaling bans, because countries such as Japan seem to find ways around them. Whales are pretty, don’t hurt them!
Posted 1 year, 8 months ago