Australian media have confirmed that John Key’s National Party Government is trying to lift the international moratorium against whaling.
Meanwhile the Australian Government have said again that they reject the notion that killing some whales will save others.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/01/2862436.htm
The Japanese whale slaughter industry will be delighted by the confirmation of John Key’s plans.
@David – It’s Easter so I’m not going to look at any fisheries research. Might have a drink later though …
Thanks Spud, you too. David can you summarise the most recent research findings of the Japanese, or point us to where you’ve found it?
Killing Whales is obscene. These glorious creatures should be treated as living treasures and protected.
There’s no moral or ethical justification to hunt and kill sea mammals in their natural environment. No one should have that right.
New Zealand’s current stance is spineless. F**k the political maneuvering. We should join Australia advocating a total ban on all whaling.
Tracey,
The Japanese program is an ongoing in nature, like the science used in fisheries stock assessment in New Zealand, so “most recent research findings” would I suppose be the most up to date versions of analyses using the data gathered over the years.
This is reported to the IWC each year as required under the whaling convention, and if you read through the IWC Scientific Committee reports you can find out all about it.
The most recent report is here:
http://www.iwcoffice.org/sci_com/screport.htm
You can also find that and reports from prior years here:
http://www.iwcoffice.org/_documents/sci_com/
The catch-at-age analyses mentioned within, for example, are important for the IWC Scientific Committee’s work in considering trends in abundance of Antarctic minke whales. The data used for these analyses come primarily from the ongoing Japanese research, as well as data collected from commercial whaling prior to Japan’s accepting the “moratorium”. The data includes age data, which is one example of data that can currently only be obtained through killing whales and doing biological examination.
These reports may be heavy going without a background knowledge of the science involved, though. If that is the case, then again I would refer you back to the BBC article I mentioned which gives an intro to the Japanese research.
If you didn’t read it, then I will highlight the quote attributed to the chair of the IWC Scientific Committee, who said “The Japanese input into cetacean research in Antarctica is significant, and I would say crucial for the (IWC) scientific committee”.
However, the IWC scientific committee is charged with advising the IWC about sustainable catch limits for whales, which is probably not right up your alley, as you are of the opinion that whaling shouldn’t happen because it is inhumane.
Spinning like a top.
David, sorry for not being more specific. Can you point me to their research into humane ways to kill whales?
Happy Easter Coolas and David
Thanks Spud, you too.
Tracey, try Google? Here’s a couple I found at the top of the list:
http://ci.nii.ac.jp/Detail/detail.do?LOCALID=ART0002972421&lang=en
http://ci.nii.ac.jp/Detail/detail.do?LOCALID=ART0008724281&lang=en
Improving methods isn’t a stated objective of their program, but they are conducting such research nonetheless, at some cost. Maybe the research could go further with assistance from other IWC member nations, if the concerns are sincerely held.