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Japan Should Remain in the IWC
and Continue Its Efforts to Reform It
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"Japan should neither secede from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) nor suspend its financial contribution. Rather it should remain in the IWC and continue IWC-reforming efforts," said Nobutoshi Akao, Secretary General of the ASEAN-Japan Center.
In an article of the October 15 issue of the Japan Economic Review, Akao, former ambassdor the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, stated "Japan's secession from the IWC would mean that Japan would lose international opportunities to make its justifiable case and would be isolated internationally."
His claim was made in view of criticisms in Japan urging on the government to quit the IWC or suspend its financial contribution to the IWC after the commission decided at its 55the annual meeting in June this year to establish a conservation committee in defiance of the opposition from Japan and some other countries.
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"In order to make its case at the IWC and other international forums, Japan should first strenuously and persistently persuade other countries to abide by the principle of sustainable utilization or use,Ehe stressed.
Further "Japan has long tried to draw other countries into its camp at the IWC and should continue such strenuous efforts," Akao continued, saying "Many developing countries endorse the principle of sustainable development, including especially Asian and African countries..."
The number of Japan's allies in the IWC was less than 10 in the past, but increased now to the extent that Japan and its allies can fairly counter the anti-whaling group.
"This is the fruit of Japan's strenuous efforts to increase its allies. I would expect that Japan to reform the abnormal IWC from the inside," Akao concluded. |
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Blue Whales and Minke Whales Compete over Food
in the Antarctic
--Whale Scientist Tells Yokohama Symposium--
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Although blue whales and minke whales are different in size, they both belong to the Balaenoptera family and migrate to the iceedge area of the Antarctic in their feeding season to consume krill. In other words, they occupy the same ecological niche and compete over the same kind of food.
This observation was made by Dr. Hidehiro Kato of the National Institute of Far Seas Fisheries at a symposium held in Yokohama on August 28 under the major theme of the "Challenging the Mystery of the Ocean and Fishes."
Dr. Kato told the audience that the blue whale, which had been estimated to exist in 200,000 early in the 20th century, has decreased to slightly over 1,000 animals because of excessive harvesting.
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By contrast, the minke whale is found in robust stock condition. Because of the alleviated competition with the blue whale over food due to the latter's depletion, minkes' trophical conditions improved and maturity age has been lowered, leading to increase in the population. Kato estimated that the minke's maturity age has been lowered since around 1940s.
He also pointed out that increase in seabird population and the lower maturity rate of crabeater seals--the two species also feeding on the Antarctic krill--have been observed. Kato suggested that reducing the number of minke whales could be considered as a means to help recovery of blue whales. |
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