However, Japan is allowed to hunt whales annually under Article VIII of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. Greenpeace asks to reduce the production of single-use plastics. Well, here are ten reasons why they should not be: 1) We don’t know how well whales are recovering, because we don’t know how many there once were or ‘should be’. 7) Whales don’t understand national boundaries, and most species migrate in and out of different countries’ waters. Amazingly ‘new’ species like the dwarf pygmy whale, Omura’s whale, and species of beaked whale have only been discovered in the last few decades. Whales are already at threat because of lots of other things, particularly plastic. But, reluctant to give up the market for whale meat and products, Japan, Iceland and Norway continue to hunt and kill fin, minke and sei whales every year. Whaling could have more impact on populations than sheer numbers. It was thought this would be a temporary measure until organisations could come up with rules for sustainable commercial whaling - that is, a number of whales that could be hunted while still keeping their numbers stable. Why has Japan starting whaling commercially again? But it was commercial whaling – turning whales into barrels of oil for profit – that led to the wholesale destruction of most of the world’s populations of big whales. Whales are being found in greater numbers and seem to be reclaiming habitats they had been hunted out of for decades, if not centuries. Conservationists are extremely angry about it. The reason why whaling is legally unacceptable is simple - most countries have specific laws prohibiting it. Although the practice of whaling has largely been halted today, some countries still participate in hunting whales for their meat.. A number of shore-based stations were in operation under some kind of regulation on the catches very shortly after this. The town still has a whaling ship which is taking part in today’s hunt. I can't believe this has happened!!! The announcement that the country will start commercial whaling again hasn't come completely out of the blue. ... Whaling through history. But, in the same way that recovering fish stocks generate cries of, “Let’s catch more because we can!’ from the fishing industry, the question now is: are some whales so numerous they can be hunted? Some consider whaling "bad" on moral grounds, yet still eat processed meat from cows, chickens, pigs, etc. 2011 - Japan will continue hunting whales, 2013 - Japan to continue whale hunt despite clashes, 2015 - Japan to restart whaling in Antarctic. Whaling began in prehistoric times in coastal waters.The earliest depictions of whaling are the Neolithic Bangudae Petroglyphs in Korea, which may date back to 6000 BC. Overfishing is the concept of catching so many fish that there aren't enough adults left to breed and replace the ones you caught. It was completed in 1994 and agreed by the IWC. There are currently 88 member countries at the International Whaling Commission, now that Japan has left: "Each has its own culture, history and view on whaling, and it is not surprising that these can be very different, and it can be hard for everyone to agree. Commercial whaling means hunting whales to sell the things that come from whales, like meat, oil and blubber. Whaling nations have all said that the practice is part of their culture and should be able to continue in a sustainable way. Humans are wiping out global wildlife populations, warns WWF, Prince William: We aren't moving fast enough to protect animals. 4) We should ban whaling because you can’t group whaling together with other harvests to form a really big group (eg fishing) that sounds too difficult to get rid of. Why does Japan disagree? Click on thumbnail to buy. We know that whales are important for the oceans, and we know that as long-lived, slow-growing animals they are much more susceptible to overfishing than actual fish. I thought humans had realised this was a treacherous thing to do. The loss of whales from our oceans is the same story as overfishing of big fish – sharks, tuna, cod and others. I want to be a marine biologist when I grow up and prevent this from happening. So, why is whaling bad? We have seen many populations showing signs of recovery since hunting was stopped. Whaling for profit was banned in 1986, however, Japan, Iceland and Norway continue to kill fin, minke and sei whales every year. There is plenty of other meat to eat. Why Whaling is bad? Whale sashimi (Picture: Getty) Whaling is the process of hunting of whales for their usable products such as meat and blubber, which can be turned into a type of oil which became increasingly important in the Industrial Revolution.It was practiced as an organized industry as early as 875 AD. Few individuals got rich whaling and most of those were owners and agents. Willie Mackenzie is an Oceans Campaigner with Greenpeace International. It's my favourite meat - it's between fish and beef. “Abundantly laden with the riches of the ocean”: Why whales were hunted. In 2018 Japan tried one last time to convince the IWC to allow whaling under sustainable quotas, but failed. Seems that it has little to do with cruelty, and animal rights activists and ecologists have little in common. The answer, of course, it that up until fairly recently no such taboo existed. Over a thousand whales are killed every year because some people want to make money from selling their meat and body parts. Whale illustrations created and donated by Joseph Catimbang from Pentasticarts. Most countries have turned their backs on whaling in order to save the animals from extinction, yet a few countries persist A spokesperson explained: "Around 30 years ago, the IWC introduced a pause on all commercial whaling. Officials say eating whales is part of the country's culture. It was banned in 1986 by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) - a group whose job it is to look after whale conservation - after some species became almost extinct. But that is just the killing process. Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. In addition, most countries have signed on to international treaties prohibiting it. Stores reopen for Christmas shopping in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Coalition members, from 55 countries, include the World Society for the Protection of Animals and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. 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