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| Open
Discussion on the Issue of Whales and Whaling |
On
September 14, a panel discussion was held in Tokyo under the theme
of "Is there a consensus among Japanese on the issue of whales?" The
session, held under the sponsorship of the Group to Consider Fisheries
in the 21st Century, was attended by four panelists representing various
standpoints on the issue of whales and whaling. The four panelists
were Dr. Seiji Ohsumi, Director-General of the Institute of Cecatean
Research, Mr. Tetsu Sato of WWF Japan, Ms Naoko Funabashi, consultant
to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Mr.Yunoshuke
Matsuda, Associate Professor of the University of Tokyo.
In his presentation
under the title of "Forecast on the Future of the IWC and Whaling,"
Dr. Ohsumi stressed the need to normalize the International Whaling
Commission and proposed Japanese-type whaling in which full and sustainable
utilization of whales is ensured. Mr. Sato of WWF-Japan underlined
the importance of not escalating the confrontation between pro- and
anti-whaling positions and stressed that both parties should engage
in rational debate based on mutual trust.
Representing
animal welfare position, Ms Funabashi remarked that she is doubtful
whether both antagonizing parties at the IWC have real intention of
coming to an agreement. She also expressed what she thinks is her
mistrust to the whaling industry. |
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| (From
left to right) Dr.Ohsumi, Mr.Sato, Ms.Funabashi and Mr. Matsuda |
Mr.Matsuda, an expert on management and sustainable use of wildlife
resources suggested we should consider in what way we can resume whaling
rather than focusing on whether or not whaling should be resumed.
Presentations
by the four panelists and comments from three expert commentators
were followed by active question-and-answer sessions from the floor
for about three and half hours.
Although no concrete
agreement was reached at the meeting, participants generally recongized
that the present confrontation between pro- and anti-whaling groups
has mostly originated from mutual distrust and agreed that it is essential
to build up a relation of trust through occasions such as the present
discussion session. |
Influential
New York Times Writer Declares:
"It's Time to Allow Harvesting of Some Whale Species" |
"It's
time to allow some species to be harvested again," the New York Times
writer commented in the newspaper's August 20, 2002 issue. In an Op-Ed
article entitled "Harvest the Whales," Mr. Nicholas D. Kristof noted
that "the 'save the whales' campaign against all commercial whaling
was necessary a few decades ago, after whaling had devastated all
large species...But it is equally true that restrictions on whaling,
including a moratorium on all commercial whaling since 1986, have
led to a sharp rebound in some whale stocks." For example, "...the
number of minke whales has trebled over 30 years" and "humpbacks are
exploding at a rate of 12 to 17 percent annually," he said, quoting
data from Dr.Milton Freeman, a whaling expert at the University of
Alberta. "The bottom line is that while most large whales remain at
risk, for some species we can no longer argue that we need to 'save
the whales.' They've been saved," he said.
Regarding predation
of marine resources Mr. Kristof pointed out that "whales now eat at
least 300 million tons of marine life, three times as much as humans".
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| Telling
Japanese and Norwegians Not to Eat Whales Is "Culinary
Imperialism", says Times columnist Nicholas D.Kristof |
|
He noted that there is speculation that rising numbers of minke whales
may be holding down the population of blue whales that compete for
similar food.
He observed "there
is no longer a 'save the whales' imperative for a moratorium on commercial
whaling of all species. The only remaining argument to oppose commercial
hunting of common species like the minke and perhaps the sperm and
gray is to say that whales are such magnificent creatures that no
one should be allowed to kill them." But he cautioned that approach
is "dangerous ground," calling it "culinary imperialism for us to
tell Norwegians and Japanese that because we like whales, they must
not eat them." He questioned "... what right do we have to forbid
them from eating an animal that is not endangered but simply lovable?"
About protection
of depleted whale stocks, Kristof suggested that "...we should do
more to help blue whales, like launching an international initiative
to identify and protect their breeding grounds." |
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