Japan Suspends Humpback Whale Hunt

03/12/2006 00:00:00 After negotiations with the chairman of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), Japan has agreed not to target humpback whales during its annual whale hunt that is underway in the seas off Antarctica.

While whaling for scientific research is legally allowed under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, Japan's program is highly controversial worldwide.
The U.S. and Japan, although having opposite views on research whaling, have maintained a long-term dialogue to overcome differences. The concession follows several rounds of talks between the Japanese IWC vice-chairman and chairman Bill Hogarth. Hogarth has maintained a dialogue with his Japanese counterparts since the IWC meeting in June. The Japanese whaling fleet set sail on November 18.

Postponed until next IWC Metting
Japanese officials told Hogarth they would postpone the Humpback whale hunt at least until after the next annual meeting of the IWC, scheduled for June 2008.

Robbie Marsland, Director of The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), said: ‘While this is good news for humpbacks it doesn’t change the fact that Japan’s whaling programme continues to expand – this season it will kill more than 900 whales, including endangered species, in the Southern Ocean. Japan is doing this unlawfully under the guise of science.’

In 1986, the IWC placed a moratorium on commercial hunting to allow species of whales to recover from decades of over harvest.
Plans to kill nearly 1000 Wales still go ahead
However the government of Japan is currently undertaking the largest so called ‘scientific’ hunt since the ban in 1986. Over the next three months Japan plans to kill 935 Minke whales and 50 endangered Fin whales in an internationally recognised sanctuary in Antarctica.

Mr Marsland added: ‘The removal of Humpbacks from the kill list this season amounts to an admission of wrongdoing by the government of Japan. IFAW opposes all commercial or so-called ‘scientific’ whaling because it is inhumane and unnecessary. Withdrawing wild threats isn't enough, Japan needs to stop whaling once and for all and join the emerging global consensus for whale conservation.’

Since the imposition of a global moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986, Japan has killed more than 10,000 whales, claiming its whaling is conducted for scientific research purposes. Little science has been produced, while the meat from these whales is put on sale in supermarkets and restaurants.