Greenpeace and most anti whaling organisations proclaimed victory for the whales after the annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Anchorage and a deafening defeat for the pro-whaling nations.
This is hardly the truth.
Most IWC delegates agree that the current IWC is dysfunctional and the positions are deadlocked. The moderate minded delegates still believe that the IWC is the best body to solve and manage whaling issues.
Japan threatens as usual to leave the IWC , but Norway has stated it has no intention to leave the IWC and the IWC is the best body to take care of its interests.
So who are the winners and losers in this high political game?
In a recent comment here at the blog, Sidney Holt, one of the persons behind the design of the whaling moratorium, stated:
“Yesterday the on-line paper American Prospect (www.prospect.org) published my evaluation of the present whaling crisis that some of the participants in this debate here might care to look at. I have concluded that the authorities and commercial interests in Japan do not wish the moratorium on commercial whaling to be lifted, because conducting commercial whaling under Special permits for ostensibly scientific purposes is more convenient. The overwhelming evidence now is that Japan intends to indefinitely expand its unregulated whaling, as the major whale populations recover. The argument that whales are eating “our” fish, and that some of them are now competing with the others and hampering thier recovery are purely devices to justify future unsustainable whaling, which is the only kind that can be profitable. The argument about meat stockpiles is interesting because it is really not about selling the current catches but rather preparing the consumer base for the planned increases in production in the coming decade.. Look at it that way and then consider the discussion now going on in the technical press in Japan regarding the projected design of a new and bigger factory ship, and increasing the numbers of catcher boats in order to fully use the factories processing capacity.”
Another scientist, Atsushi Ishii, from Tohoku University in Sendai , Japan, shared a similar view. He believes the current status quo suits the Japan’s Fisheries Agency:
“Japan is happy to continue scientific whaling; but they say scientific whaling is needed because they want to overturn the moratorium, so they need the moratorium to continue scientific whaling,” he says.”
And what did the antis say?
In the BBC article, Dr Epstein from the University of Sydney said:
“There’s that relationship between NGOs and governments that is quite functional from both of their perspectives,” observes Dr Epstein.
“Governments look quite green because they’re listening to NGOs; NGOs get listened to in an international system of states where there isn’t much room normally for them. So there isn’t much incentive to listen to anything else.”
In this thesis, the NGOs dictate what governments need to say to look green, the governments say it, and NGOs duly say nice things about them. Reporters lap it all up, even help foment it, because they know what story their readers are expecting; it is all utterly predictable, and nobody has an incentive to step out of line.
Everyone’s a winner; except, of course, the whales.
Ann Novek
Sweden
PS The Norwegian media even pointed out that Norway was praised at the IWC meeting for its thorough report on how long it takes to kill a whale!
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
Ann,
Thanks for the summary of all this. I am picking that it will be interesting to revisit these types of political analyses later in the year. Maybe I am gullible for actually paying attention to what Japanese officials have actually been saying though (in both English as well as Japanese). We’ll see!
Here’s another good one:
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=2d5e108b-c832-4e6a-afe0-95358b6ce598&k=51740
It’s hard to tell from this article but my guess is some officials somewhere in the Netherlands finally pulled their heads and told SSCS that they wouldn’t be permitted to fly the Dutch flag on their next attempts at the Japanese art of kamikaze. Congratulations indeed.
Ironically, Paul Watson previously described Tuvalu as a “rinky dink nation of whores”. I wonder how many states will recognise the flags he’ll be flying. “If any” may be a more appropriate question.
The contamination issue is back again in Norwegian media and everyone from whalers to environmentalists are concerned about increased levels of toxins in the whale blubber and meat.
The blubber is indeed toxic , but so far no dramatic increases of toxin levels have not been detected.
As it is now all blubber from the Norwegian hunt is dumped together with a part of whale meat.
It is preferable to take care of the toxic waste on land, but this year no fascilities are not available to do this.
The Japanese market is closed to Norwegian blubber due to contamination and probably the Icelandic whales blubber is as toxic as the Norwegian one. Thinking about Mr. Loftsson’s plans to export Fin whales to Japan.
It seems as no trade will be possible between Japan and Iceland and Norway due to elevated toxin levels in whales, something that not will be better with in the future…
Actually, IMO, the market for trade in whale products seems very bleak….
David,
I see that the political scientist, Atsushi Ishii, is opposed to anti whaling direct actions on the high seas as they are counterproductive according to him.
Actually, this is the second political scientist from Japan , who has stated this.
So I wonder really why SS and GP don’t listen to them if they really want to ” save the whales” ???
An interesting set of observations you have made Ann. In some ways we humans are like two dogs who live on opposite sides of a fence. We snarl at each other and threaten each other with slow and painful dismemberment, if we could only get through the fence.
But if you take the fence down, the dogs will still behave the same way, running up and down as if the fence was still there, making all the same threats. It’s not the resolution of the conflict that we want, it’s the conflict itself.
So, Jennifer, now I’m curious. How long does it take to kill a whale? My Norwegian language skills have fallen into disuse recently, so I didn’t make much progress with the link. The method has bothered me more than most aspects of whale hunting. Shooting an explosive projectile into an animal is something humans would normally only do to each other. Is it as barbaric as it looks?
We have been through this already, but humpback whale watching brings in about $ 45-50 million a year to the state , according to WA Premier Alan Carpenter.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/WA-premier-criticises-Japan-on-whaling/2007/06/19/1182019111042.html
” So, Jennifer, now I’m curious. How long does it take to kill a whale? ” -Boxer
Sorry Boxer, I’m not Jennifer, but I can give it a try…
In the Norwegian hunt 80% of the whales die instantly. Methink, the average TTD, in most other cases is about 2,5 minutes, but TTDs between 10 minutes and up to 1 hour happen…
There is one thing the Norwegian whalers hate , and that is to be called barbaric and cruel…but sure it’s difficult to kill such a big animal in a moving sea in a very satisfactory way…
Sir Richard Attenborough has been invited by the Norwegian whalers to come onboard a whaling ship and witness the hunt as the whalers say themselves the hunt is ” humane” but so far he has declined…
I know as well that an IFAW delegate accompanied an Icelandic whaling vessel to witness the cruelty of the hunt…I dunno what she stated afterwards….
A BBC team followed the hunt 2006 :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4530415.stm
Re Norway, even if whaling is carrying out, they have very hard and strict animal welfare laws.
For example, no whips in horse races, dolphinariums are banned due to animal welfare concerns, no living baits in fishing and now they consider to ban all cage birds( exotic birds).
>Re Norway, even if whaling is carrying out, they have very hard and strict animal welfare laws.
For example, no whips in horse races, dolphinariums are banned due to animal welfare concerns, no living baits in fishing and now they consider to ban all cage birds( exotic birds).
Yep. That makes heaps of sense. Is it really about animal welfare concerns or is it about other things that they do and do not want?
Ann,
I saw some info from WDCS that actually said minke whales taken in Iceland’s scientific permit hunts was found to have lower levels of mercury than Norway’s whales. Still, as I’ve been saying for a while now, time will tell with Mr. Loftsson’s fin meat export although we have been waiting for quite a while. I suppose if it’s a commercial operation they may not feel inclined to tell the western media all about it if they didn’t get the test results they and their Japanese buyers had hoped for.
Whale watching does bring in millions (don’t know how much it’s worth in Japan), and that’s great that these commercial operations which exploit whales are successful, at the same time sales of JARPA / JARPN by-product whale meat in Japan also work out to around 50 million USD each year, and this is mainly with byproduct from minkes. Iceland has a growing whale watching industry despite 4-5 years of scientific permit hunting.
The Aussies had their chance to permit only even the smallest of “commercial” minke whale harvests in the North Pacific and potentially had the Antarctic humpbacks left alone in return. The politicians of Australia decided *against* this avenue because “it would be breaking the global moratorium” (which we have for what reason was it again?), and “weak” because they’ve talked for so many years about how anti-whaling is “world opinion” (despite Japan and most of it’s neighbours having no problems with the notion of killing and eating whales for food). It’s a good illustration of how much Australia really cares about the humpback whales, if you put yourself in the shoes of the Japanese or other nations supportive of sustainable whaling. I’m actually surprised that the Aussie public hasn’t given the govt. a roasting over it.
Ishii is right that anti-whaling campaigns result in anti-anti-whaling sentiment in Japan, but GP and SSCS have their own motives, who cares, they are irrelevant anyway. Ishii, I think, will be shown in time to be wrong with his ideas about Japan being happy with just scientific whaling. Japan is committed to seeing high seas whaling and coastal whaling resumed on a sustainable basis. Like I say, Aussie could have tried for a compromise and agreed to allow one but not the other, but it seems they are happy to take neither in exchange for an ongoing point of difference in what is otherwise a very friendly relationship not only economically, but also in terms of defence these days, and the Aussie public seems content too.
Ann,
I think animal welfare legislation is all just a matter of “opportunity cost”. Nobody wants to have animals suffer for the sake of having them suffer, but people are prepared to accept suffering if benefits can be reaped because of it.
It smells pretty foul when people single out the whalers. If there were vegetarian states in the world then it wouldn’t be such a nasty stench.
Ann, as you know I read a lot of Japanese information and I can tell you that these Aussie pollies telling everyone how barbaric and cruel whaling is gets up the nose of many a Japanese person, as well.
It’s good for “pro-whaling” sentiment though, so I whole-heartedly support it.
>It’s a good illustration of how much Australia really cares about the humpback whales, if you put yourself in the shoes of the Japanese or other nations supportive of sustainable whaling. I’m actually surprised that the Aussie public hasn’t given the govt. a roasting over it.
Had those at the IWC (as a matter of balance, it was not just Australia) backed Japan’s alternative, you and your cronies would be the first to cynically point out how one species can be favoured over another and the hypocrisy of such a suggestion.
Watch the ‘Australian public’s’ opinion come January 2008. I can assure you it wont be a backlash against Australian politicians. That will be a sentiment I ‘whole-heartedly support.’
>I can tell you that these Aussie pollies telling everyone how barbaric and cruel whaling is gets up the nose of many a Japanese person, as well.
What this really says is that the Japanese, who are largely uninformed on a range of western views (except for what their local media choose to tell them or for those who can read and speak English fluently) either don’t give a toss about animal welfare or have no idea what is involved in (for example) cetacean hunts. Given the range of issues brought up at CITES with regards to endangered species being ‘utilised’ by Japan, it’s easy to conclude that Japan doesn’t give a toss about anything except Japan. What would make this all the worse is if the Japanese public at large were ignorant due to propoganda and censorship from their own powers that be. Let’s face it, that is something you have accussed the Australian government and NGOS of doing to the Australian public.
>Nobody wants to have animals suffer for the sake of having them suffer, but people are prepared to accept suffering if benefits can be reaped because of it.
If the benefits are for the minority, I wonder how it can be justified? Oh that’s right. It depends on who the minority are, doesn’t it?
” Is it really about animal welfare concerns or is it about other things that they do and do not want?” – Travis
I’m a little bit thick, dunno exactly what you mean here, but I’m sure it’s all about animal welfare concerns.
Maybe some people think it’s strange that they ban dolphinariums but not whaling!
However, I have seen the document why they ban dolphinariums.
It’s because the cetaceans need much more space to feel comfortable etc.
David,
Probably WDCS is correct that the Icelandic whales are less contaminated than the coastal Norwegian whales.
How the toxins are carried with air and water streams is still a bit mysterious….for example it looks like the pristine Greenland whales and polar bears are very contaminated.
Re mercury, think much of it origins from Russian areas. They have very polluting industries in the Murmansk area etc.
It is as well interesting to note that two hard die prowhaling papers wrote about the contamination issue.
Some years ago it would probably have been an outcry if they did so and the whalers would have blamed the NGOs to be behind such ” propaganda” and stating that they would like to sue the NGOs etc for making it hard for whalers to sell the whale meat and blubber.
But as it is now, the contamination issue is not only a problem for whalers but threatening the whole marine eco-system.
BTW. 290 minkes have been killed so far in this years hunt, but soon the holiday season starts and activities will slow down…
Travis,
Your comments remind me of the way all the anti’s were in ultra vilification mode prior to the IWC meeting criticising Japan for planning to do things which they had explicitly ruled out doing, as well as not being able to do, even if they wanted to (which they had also stated that they didn’t as well). Shzeese.
The option available at IWC 59, which the Aussies (yes amongst others) elected not to take, was very much a compromise proposal that would have seen less whales killed, more of the whales that are killed killed under IWC oversight (which is apparently something that Aussie is concerned about, notwithstanding their general opposition to whaling). It was not a proposal that either Aussie or Japan (or a lot of nations) would have been 100% satisfied with, but then that’s what compromises are all about.
So it’s interesting that when I suggest a compromise option was available but rejected, you criticise me (and “my cronies”?!) in a similar fashion.
Besides, Aussies are already criticised for favouring “whales” over cows, sheep, kangaroos, and southern bluefin tuna (to name a handful), I couldn’t really give a stuff about them drawing further distinctions between humpbacks and minkes (which they do anyway, and at least with respect the the humpbacks they do actually have more of an interest to speak of).
> What this really says is that the Japanese
Whipdeedooooo… once again I’m “informed” about “the Japanese” by Travis.
> If the benefits are for the minority, I wonder how it can be justified? Oh that’s right. It depends on who the minority are, doesn’t it?
It has more to do with which sovereign nation one is talking about.
People who are whalers and people have empathy for whalers and the benefits of whaling tend to be in the majority in whaling nations, where as the opposite is evidently true in non-whaling nations.
You being a cleva fulla can think of reverse examples involving Aussie eh.
290 huh Ann. You told me the other day that they were ever so slightly up on the same time last year, is that still the case?
Oh yeah, missed a bit, I guess you’re right Travis, we’ll have to wait and see once the the humpbacks harpooning footage is broadcast.
Actually it’s funny cos a lot of media reports have already said in 2005 and 2006 that Japan was already killing humpbacks. I guess when it does actually starts happening, things will be different, and many Aussies, no matter where they may be at the time, will feel a sudden grasp on their heart, and the world will finally know exactly, once and for all just how important these humpbacks are to Australia as a nation.
ECO published some useful info in relation to this:
http://www.earthisland.org/immp/ECO2007/issue3.html
“Australia: Japan is Australia’s most important export market. In 2004-2005 Australia’s total trade with Japan was 42 billion, with a $7.7 billion trade surplus for Australia. Japan has been Australia’s largest export market for 40 years since l966. Japan also remains Australia’s second largest inbound tourism market attracting approximately 700,000 tourists each year. Australia is currently negotiating a Japan/Australia Free Trade Agreement. The trade deal could add nearly $40 billion to Australia’s economy.”
(that’s courtesy of Australians for Animals)
“Crass economics or environmental protection? Guess which wins and which loses?”, asks ECO.
Well:
http://kalgoorlie.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=lifestyle%20news&subclass=news%20extra&story_id=597361&category=news%20extra
According to “Ross Peake is National Affairs Writer for The Canberra Times”, “Our bitter wartime foe has been our most important trading partner for decades. Early this year, China’s rush for our coal and gas put it in the top spot. These two nations are too important to Australia’s economic future to allow a spat over whales or the Dalai Lama to take precedence. Therefore, Abe will be treated with courtesy, as befits his office.”
… but I guess a National Affairs writer just looks at the big picture a little too much to really understand.
I’m with Mr. Peake on this one though, fully aware that I don’t have as strong a grasp on the Aussie psyche as Travis.
” 290 huh Ann. You told me the other day that they were ever so slightly up on the same time last year, is that still the case? “- David
According to Fiskeribladet, there’s a slight increase in catches…..but the whale processing factories will not work full time in July…
So pretty much the same amount of meat this year as last. I’m sure there will be some in Norway closely following Mr. Loftsson’s situation… maybe things will be different next year.
“I guess when it does actually starts happening, things will be different, and many Aussies, no matter where they may be at the time, will feel a sudden grasp on their heart, and the world will finally know exactly, once and for all just how important these humpbacks are to Australia as a nation.”
I believe it is more about Australians having had an personal “experience” with these animals during whale watching excursions, and that the animals are important to individuals based on this experience, rather than to “Australia as a nation.” But perhaps both Travis and I have no idea of the “Aussie psyche.”
Boxer,
Here is some information regarding whale time to death (TTD) and instantaneous death rates (IDR). It refers primarily to whales killed under Special Permit (or “Scientific Whaling”). It is not a comprehensive summary, and I have not included anything on Aboriginal subsistence hunts.
“The IWC defines humane killing as causing death without pain, stress or distress perceptible to the animal (IWC 1980). If a harpoon fails in its objective and a secondary killing device has to be used, these criteria cannot be upheld. Despite this, secondary killing should adhere to the IWC definition and ought to render the animal instantly insensible until death occurs” (McLachlan, 1995).
The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) empowers the IWC to adopt regulations regarding weapons used during whaling activities, however this does not include Special Permit whaling operations.
Data provided to the IWC shows that on average, the IDR for minke whales in the JARPA (Antarctic) hunt is approx half that of minkes killed in the Norwegian hunt. During 2003/04 Japan reported IDRs of 43.4% and in 2004/05 IDRs of 45.5%. For their North Pacific (JARPN) hunts minke IDRs were 35.0% for 2003 and 44.0% for 2004. Norway reports an IDR of 80.7% for the 2002 hunt.
The maximum length of – Antarctic minke whale = 10.7m; Bryde’s whale = 15.6m, sei whale = 19.5m; Fin whale (Northern Hemisphere) = 24m (Southern Hemisphere) = 27.1 m; sperm whale = 18.3m, humpback whale = 17m. Fin whales are the fastest of the large whales – “speeds of 20 knots are common, and bursts of up to 25 knots have been recorded.”
“During the 1999 Workshop on Whale Killing Methods, Japan noted that the difference between [the] proportion of immediate kills for Japanese hunt(s) compared to that of Norway could be largely attributed to two main reasons and that it was inappropriate to make comparisons between the two proportions of immediate kills directly. These reasons were different sea and weather conditions and Japan undertook whaling for scientific purposes.” However, The IDR for whales killed in the JARPN hunts are also low (compared to the Norwegian IDRs), and the weather conditions here are infinitely better than in the Antarctic or even North Atlantic.
Factors other than weather which are to be taken into consideration include gunner fatigue and inexperienced gunners. New gunners have been cited as one reason for lower IDRs. “Japan reported that ‘Three of the gunners doing full-scale work in the 2001/2002 JARPA were new recruits. They took 137 of the 440 whales. TTD and instantaneous death rate of whales taken by the new gunners were, on average, worse than for whales taken by inexperienced gunners.’” The gunner must make use of the prevailing conditions, aim at a moving target on a moving sea and from a moving platform. In relation to fin and humpback whales (the two new species under the JARPA II program), the Government of Japan noted in its 2005 JARPA II plan that “Crews and research staff of the research fleet have no experience in catching and flensing these two large-sized whales. Thus, it is necessary to examine the practicability of methods of hunting, hauling, flensing and biological sampling”. One paper states – “Clearly, one of the main objectives of this feasibility study will be to determine how efficiently fin whales can be killed in the Southern Ocean. Since the present gunners have no experience in killing whales of this size, nor in using the grenade harpoon with increased penthrite charges on live fin whales, the ‘experimental’ aspect of these kills raises serious concern, particularly as there is no independent oversight.”
There appears to be a relationship between the size of the species being killed and the average TTD. “Data provided by Japan on whales killed in the JARPA and JARPN II hunts indicate that the size of the species killed influences the average ‘Time to Death’. The data further indicate that the frequency of use of the harpoon as a secondary killing method increases dramatically with the size of the whale species being hunted.” Some examples to illustrate this: during the 2004/05 JARPA season, 440 minkes were killed, the mean TTD was 1:58, the IDR was 45.5%, 55 needed a secondary killing method of harpoon, and 262 needed a secondary killing method of rifle. In the 2003 JARPN hunt, 50 sei whales were killed, the mean TTD was 4:34, the IDR was 36%, 26 required secondary killing with harpoon, and 22 required secondary killing with rifle, with an average of 2.6 shots. (For those that do not know – The JARPN II program kills minke, sei, Bryde’s and sperm whales. The JARPA II program kills minke, humpback and fin whales, the JARPA program killed only minke whales.)
In the Greenland hunt for fin whales the average TTD between 2000 and 2004 “varied enormously between 9 and 114 minutes. The maximum time to death varied annually between 25 and 720 minutes. The struck and lost rate in this hunt was between 12 and 25 percent ie for every ten fin whales killed and landed, between one and two were struck and lost.” (Greenland has complained that use of this information in a NZ paper is “inappropriate”, despite the fact the data was already freely available in the public domain). Greenland has since reduced its TTDs.
A Norwegian researcher claims that in 1987 10 out of 14 fin whales (71%) and 13 of 15 sei whales (87%) were recorded instantly dead when some gear adjustments were made in Iceland.
Japan has not provided any information to the IWC on struck and lost rates of whales during its Special Permit whaling. In 2007 Japan, Norway and Iceland announced they will not provide information to the IWC on struck and lost whales. In 2007 Japan also announced it will not be providing welfare information from JARPN II to the IWC, despite the fact it is recognised that the welfare considerations of killing larger whales has not been properly researched or addressed.
Little current information exists on Japan’s Special Permit whale killing methods or TTDs and IDRs.
Minke whales, the smallest species hunted under Special Permit, take on average between 1:46 and 3:14 to die during these hunts. Consider the sizes of other species hunted under Special Permit, and there is the suggestion from the low IDR and average TTD for all species that the killing methods employed are not well-suited to the range of species. The “size and mass, location of external landmarks in relation to internal organs; blubber thickness and specific features of the skeleton (such as thickness of the skull); and bone density” can influence the efficiency of killing methods. “Blubber can comprise from 15 to 50% of the mass of a great whale, depending on the species, the season, the condition of the animals and its age.” This in turn can influence the course of harpoons and bullets through the body.
The size of the cannon and harpoon used has been reduced from 90mm firing 60 kg during conventional whaling operations to 75 mm cannons firing 45 kg harpoons during Japanese operations when smaller species were hunted and there was a desire to “conserve meat”. A 60mm harpoon is now used by Japan for killing minke whales, and a 75m cannon with increased penthrite charge is used by Japan for fin whales (they were previously killed using the 90 mm harpoon cannon). It has been noted by the Whale Research Institute that the “depth to which a grenade tipped harpoon penetrates the blubber of a whale is a function of its diameter, mass, and velocity. These dimensions, in addition to the use of increased penthrite charges, may still be of significance for the killing of larger species such as the fin whale.” The penthrite charge used to kill sperm whales under JARPN II is 1.7 times larger than the 30g charge used for minke whales, but no clear indication regarding the size of the harpoon or gauge of the forerunner has been provided for this species, nor has Japan provided any TTD or IDR to the IWC for sperm whales.
“The use of underpowered weapons to kill larger whales (sei and Bryde’s whales) during the Special Permit hunts conducted by Japan is demonstrated by the frequent use of secondary killing methods and in particular the high mean ‘Time to Death’ for sei whales; 4minutes and 34 seconds and 3 minutes and 59 seconds for the 2003 and 2004 JARPNII hunts respectively….Despite the frequent use of secondary killing methods, the mean reported ‘Time to Death’ for this species was still approximately 4 minutes.” Japan claims that the penthrite grenade is not underpowered, and that “in testing using 30g of penthrite compared with 450g of black powder, the penthrite was more powerful.”
Discussions on secondary killing techniques have focussed on minke whales and rifle calibres, neglecting other species and whether a rifle or second grenade harpoon is the more appropriate secondary killing method. Japan noted in 2005 that only explosive harpoons were used for sperm whales as a secondary killing method. Greenland uses the penthrite harpoon as a secondary killing method for fin whales, and Japan uses “a secondary harpoon” as a secondary killing method. Japan has acknowledged that fin whales are larger and more difficult to kill than minkes, but that devices for killing minkes could be used for larger species. They use a combination of large calibre rifles with full metal jacketed bullets as a secondary killing device for minkes. Japan has also “indicated that economic factors play a role in the choice of secondary killing method.” Japanese researchers commented “the financial aspects related to the selection of grenades should be considered carefully as we proceed with research or start future commercial whaling…The Norwegian grenade has been shown to be an excellent killing device for minke whales even attached to the Japanese high powered harpoon although some misfiring was observed. Financial concerns may be the most important factor related to the decision whether of not to introduce them to Japan.” In contrast to the above claims made by Japan, its delegates say the rifle is used not because it is cheaper but because it is more effective, and that the Japanese grenade with improved fuse has similar performance to the Norwegian grenade. The “desire to preserve meat for commercial sale may influence the choice of secondary killing method, which may be one reason why the rifle is more commonly used than a second penthrite grenade as a secondary killing method for minke whales in both the commercial Norwegian hunt and Japanese Special Permit hunts.”
“Knowles and Butterworth (2006) have recently shown that in order to achieve an immediately immobile and ‘presumed’ unconscious state in minke whales, using the Norwegian penthrite grenade harpoon, it is necessary to hit a relatively defined target area. Such accuracy may be difficult to achieve repeatedly, as indicated by the results of research (Knudsen 2004) which showed that the average rate of immediate immobilisation for whales killed by hunters on two vessels in the Norwegian hunt was only 54%.”
When asked by the Netherlands at this year’s IWC meeting on Whale Killing Methods about the Taiji dolphin hunts, (http://www.glumbert.com/media/dolphin ) Japan responded “that this was an issue of small cetaceans over which it believes the IWC does not have competency.”
Libby, I’ve no doubt some individuals feel especially strongly about humpbacks, but how is it relevant? Is this a significantly wider group of people than those who have been strongly opposed to whaling in recent years? Will anything change? Why should your typical Japanese believe that Aussie appeals at IWC 59 about humpbacks were anything more than a bluff to try and get a concession out of the Japanese for nothing? No diplomat would seriously expect to get a positive response with this.
As (presumably Aussie) National Affairs writer Ross Peake suggests, whatever the feeling about humpback whales, it doesn’t seem that it will count for diddly when put in the perspective of the overall relationship between the two nations.
Better start rounding up all your friends I reckon. If the Aussie stance over humpbacks doesn’t appear to be anything other than the standard response to whales being killed, Japan might even be encouraged to move things along more quickly.
(Nice post by the way, another method is to post a URL with a section number)
Anyone have any idea on why whale sharks are raised in this article related to whaling? Is Carpenter confused? Is the journo confused? Is the journo not confused?
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/WA-premier-criticises-Japan-on-whaling/2007/06/19/1182019111042.html
“As (presumably Aussie) National Affairs writer Ross Peake suggests, whatever the feeling about humpback whales, it doesn’t seem that it will count for diddly when put in the perspective of the overall relationship between the two nations”.
Why David I am surprised you even mentioned this. We all know that when it comes down to business, visiting diplomates, etc the Australian Government has other priorities rather than biodiversity. I’d be surprised if the word “whales”(wales) was even mentioned in relation to the state (NSW) when Mr Abe visits. And it is not just us or biodiversity – the Chinese can turn a blind eye to the Dalai lama knowing full well that economics speaks more wisdom than a funny little man in orange robes who is exiled from his country (not being disrespectful to the DL of course).
re the whale shark/humpback whale link, I gather the journo thought the two were related when it came to tourism, threats, and um the word “whale”.
re posting a URL with a section number…now you are showing me your real expertise, and I am showing you my real non-comprehendo!
And that’s really my point, does Japan really need to be concerned about Australia’s all or nothing , no compromises approach to the whaling dispute?
Hey Ann,
Just read on a GP forum (from a person in Iceland) that Mr. Loftsson (I think it is that he/she refers to) was reportedly saying in the Iceland media a couple of days ago that “he was sure that the fin whale meat would be in japan by the end of summer”
So maybe the question is not whether or not the meat will get here, but whether or not I’ll be able to get my teeth into some before it sells out?
David,
I can’t make up my mind if Mr. Loftsson tries to be an independence hero, or a pathological lier…
I dunno how many times I have heard the story that he’s going to sell the Fin whales to Japan…finally you lose all trust in him…
It is as well strange that the Nordic whalers have had a hope to the Japanese market. Not only is the Norwegian blubber contaminated but the Japanese whalers don’t want any competition from Nordic whalers…
So good luck with your Fin whale meat dinner…I’m sure that you are aware that the Icelanders find the meat unpalatable!
“Pathological liar” seems that is would look nice emblazoned across Paul Watson’s bloated belly, but as for Mr. Loftsson’s operation, if the report is true and he’s actually saying “by the end of the summer” then I reckon we should be able to tell by the end of September, say. So I’ll stop saying “time will tell” around then (or earlier if the news breaks before then). So shall we sit tight until then?
Have to wait and see with regards to the blubber, but if the meat is OK it should be welcome judging by info I’m seeing. Dunno if you checked my latest whale meat stockpile update, but according to people in the know there seems to be a “shortage” of stock right now (check my update for April’s stockpile figures). But there I go, listening to what the Japanese are saying again! Silly me? We’ll know by September.
Lucky for the whale eaters and whale exporters if Icelanders don’t want to eat any. Prices in Japan should be higher than in the home markets, although the JPY is in the shit these days with the low interest rates. Don’t know how the specific cross rates with the Iceland and Norwegian currencies are looking though…
—
Oh yeah, this I think is a good illustration of what I was talking about further up the page in relation to opportunity cost.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/06/21/1957637.htm?site=southeastnsw
Were it about “Elephants” or “Whales” or other animals that aren’t typically considered as food by, or don’t make problems for Aussies (or Kiwis, Brits etc) it’d be a whole different story.
By the way, “basashi” (horse sashimi) is also popular here in Japan. Maybe they could export their dead unwanted horses to the Japanese market.
Hmm, x rates aren’t looking good!
http://www.x-rates.com/d/ISK/JPY/graph120.html
What’s with the crash? (the ISK did similar things with the USD though)
Not good news for the Norwegian exporters either:
http://www.x-rates.com/d/NOK/JPY/graph120.html
This could be another aspect effecting the chances of profitable export whaling succeeding in Iceland (and Norway, if any one shows any interest)
GP are now advertising on HotCopper http://www.hotcopper.com.au/default.asp
I checked out the GP ad. It stated among other things: ” Your generous gift will help us :
STOP WHALING COMPLETELY BY 2009″.
Actually me thought this kind of ads were a bit unlawful/ criminal, promising things that will never happen, reminds me about those diet ads, promising you to lose 10 kg if you try out their diet pills!
Wow, GP actually surprised me with that one. Thanks rog!
>Actually me thought this kind of ads were a bit unlawful/ criminal, promising things that will never happen
Well, we have a prime minister who (for one thing in a long list) had ads about never introducing a GST. But hey, we were slagging off GP here, so I wont spoil the party.
Travis,
A little bit ” constructive” criticism won’t harm GP… I really wish they could leave out such parts…
Actually, they promised in an article that whaling would stop after this year’s IWC meeting if just supporters put some pressure on their politicians, no, it ain’t that easy!
Whaling nations are planning to expand the whaling industries, and never have the quotas been as big after the moratorium as this year…
Why I’m complaing? I also received an e-mail from GP that they had ” saved the polar bears”. Is it true?
No, I can’t be too hard on the GP people, they are actually just consisting of very young people..in the GP Nordic office, hardly no one is older than about 25 -27 years….
Travis,
Just one more thought…
There was a GP anti GMO action in Sweden some days ago. The campaigners and the activists wore doctor’s coats with stethoscopes. Either that, or the activists are dressed up as bumble bees!!! Do you think this will get people to get the right impression on GMO’s?
No, I’m interested in science and not in spectacles;)
>Travis,
A little bit ” constructive” criticism won’t harm GP… I really wish they could leave out such parts…
Ann, isn’t constructive criticism where you actually let the person/party you find fault with know? Otherwise it’s just whining and bitching.
“No, I can’t be too hard on the GP people, they are actually just consisting of very young people..in the GP Nordic office, hardly no one is older than about 25 -27 years….”
Wow Ann, ageism, who would have thought? I was “only” 27 when I did my first survey on a GP vessel (and was a senior keeper at a zoo at the time), let alone all the stuff I’d done before that. What to become of the child prodigy or one who drops out of school young to start their own business? Or does this comment only apply to GP?!
Ageism, Libby…dunno what you’re talking about:) ??
I did some work for GP together with a person like yourself, a marine biologist, and she was not older than 22 or 23.
She told me that she had never worked in a place where people were so youth based….and she did not look at this as something entirely positive.
I mean how funny is it to talk or discuss with GP people or moderators who believe that the harpoon should be ladden with aenestetics???
“She told me that she had never worked in a place where people were so youth based….and she did not look at this as something entirely positive.”
The IT industry and many of the animal care industries here in Australia tend to be incredibly “youth based”. Certainly with some jobs you need a cross-section of experience, which tends to come with a cross-section of age. It is not a matter of “youth”, but knowledge, experience and maturity. Work on the GP ships and there are people who should be retired based on age. The biologists I’ve meet there have all been pretty old. The few IT people I’ve met there have been pretty young. You can get silly old farts and switched-on young things, or wise old codgers and dopey Y-generation kids.
“I mean how funny is it to talk or discuss with GP people or moderators who believe that the harpoon should be ladden with aenestetics???”
I don’t think the ability to make this type of comment is limited to an individual’s age. It is more to do with ignorance, and that certainly is not age-specific. Neither is the ability to learn.
Libby, you must be aware that Greenpeace’s main work don’t consist of whales surveys but of direct actions and civil obedience.
It’s even worse IMO if grown up people or matured ones are carrying out those stunts…it’s really pathetic when over-aged hippies are dressed up as bumble bees or trees or whatever their stunts are:-)!
Well, between the ones that are “very young people” and the ones that are “over-aged hippies”, I guess they just can’t win.
I’m with Travis:
“But hey, we were slagging off GP here, so I wont spoil the party.”
Slagging off GP was only ever fun because some people get so damn precious about them. My guess is that this sensitivity is more because GP is on the “good side”, and people are prepared to voice up for a bunch of morons that they agree with at least in ultimate aim, although perhaps not in method.
The most credible anti-whalers are the ones that don’t stick up for GP’s show pony antics but are still anti-whaling anyway, for whatever one of the multitude of reasons that people have for it. It’s easiser to disregard a GP sympathizer.
GP are irrelevant anyway, they get more attention than they merit.
Just a quick comment as I have limited time and internet access at the mo ..
On the subject of Greenpeace – if you can understand German, have a look at the Stern website – (www.stern.de – just type lidl in the search box )they are taking a pasting in Germany because of alledged bribery allegations from LIDL, a supermarket discounter. Gist of the story is that LIDL had the worst rating for pesticides in a 2005 survey of supermarkets – a new one makes them the best … thing is, LIDL, a cuthroat discounter – approached GP and offered to buy 150,000 copies of the greenpeace magazine with no return right ( which is normal in Germany ) GP Mag doubles their print run, makes 300,000 Euro every couple of months etc etc etc. Many of the LIDL employees pointed out that the Magazine does´nt sell, upwards of 80& of the magazines went unsold and were dumped. LIDL has now reduced the amount to 60,000 copies but they are still being dumped. A GP spokesman on the Stern TV program denied that the charity GP benefits at all from the magazine sales as the GP magazine is run by a for profit company … Thing is, he was a bit caught out there, as the Gp magazine donates all profit to the GP charity …
Stern has taken samples from vegetables from a bunch of LIDL supermarkets and is having them independantly tested to see if LIDL´s new “rating” is justified .. the results will be known next week..
But as we all know, GP would never take bribes would they? it says so in their bumph 😉
Time will tell, but however it pans out, the public have lost a massive amoubt of faith in the GP “brand ” here – whether thru naivity on the part of GP or not …
For the record, producing 150,000 of these magazines is not very environmentally friendly either, especially when 80% were dumped – towhit :
– 42.750 Kilo recycled paper
– 534.375 Lt water
– 71.250 Kilowatt-hours- energy
On the whaling theme – some interesting images here from Japanese whaling :
http://www.stern.de/wissenschaft/natur/:Walschlachtung-Japans-Hunger-Wale/591557.html
Norwegian paper Fiskeribladet stated yestereday ” there’s a big local demand for fresh whale meat. On Monday one company sold out 800 kg whale meat in four hours. On Monday they sold about 500 kg…”.
The retailers get a good price for the meat as there ain’t much meat on the market.
Whalers report that the weather conditions are poor on the hunting grounds but much whales have been spotted. There seems to be much calves around , according to the paper.
The best meat comes from minkes weighting about 1300kg.
Ooops, on Tueday they sold 500kg minke whale beef
Ooops, on Tuesday they sold 500kg minke whale beef
Did somone mention GREENPEACE !
It a wonder you ladies haven’t harvested George and David with penthrite grenades. I mean there’s probably some kinky food fetishists out there who want to snack on Davids and Georges bits. So there’s a demand for it. It would probably improve the gene pool removing sympathisers so what’s wrong with it?
Anyway have you seen that the bloody Japs want to rename Iwo Jima to Iwo To. Bastards. They eat whales and rename sacred sites. Need to defeat them all over again and put them back in their place.
You won’t find any decent RSL attending Aussies eating bloody heavy metal infested sentient beings. Probably Jap mercury too leaking out of Minimata Bay still. Maybe their research mob is seeing what happens when you load whales up with mercury and feed them to humans. Why not. Beats any other explanation.
Now now Luke, careful or you may be joining ‘precious’ Libby and I. Supporting GP was only ever fun because some people get so damn venomous about them. My guess is that this sensitivity is more because GP is on the “good side”, and people are prepared to voice up for a bunch of morons that they disagree with no matter what the facts or outcomes are.
The most credible whalers are the ones that have an open mind of their own and aren’t sheep in samurai’s clothing. It’s ‘easiser’ to disregard a GP sympathizer and it’s done here all the time regardless of other characteristics.
GP are irrelevant anyway, but we’ll keep giving them attention.
Hey Lukey,
According to Greenpeace ” Whales safe for another year …” ( excerpt from a newsletter that I received from GP yesterday)!
So no need to harvest David and George yet…;-)
Travis,
I know many ” juicy” stories from Greenpeace… but out of respect for Libby and you I’ll pass…
Luke
“It would probably improve the gene pool removing sympathisers so what’s wrong with it?”
Speaking as a father, thats got to be one of the most tasteless comments I´ve seen here on Jens blog – there´s humor and there´s humor .. that was WAY below the belt- apologise you ass
Luke looks sheepish. Hands behind the back. Kicks the ground. Doesn’t look George in the eye. And says “might be a liitle bit sorry” in a VERY soft voice.
Just assume it was meant for David not you then.
Hey if you’re a father how come you’re not a nice caring bloke then? And how can you have a swashbuckling life and be a Dad. Or is it a string of children in every port?
Accepted:
” how come you’re not a nice caring bloke then? ”
Believing in sustainble use does´nt exclude it luke…
” And how can you have a swashbuckling life and be a Dad? ”
Hard bloody work over many years ..
” Or is it a string of children in every port? ”
A string of something anyway .. ,op
PS..
Go to your room and stay there … no supper for you me lad
“I know many ” juicy” stories from Greenpeace… but out of respect for Libby and you I’ll pass…”
Ann, speaking for myself, you can write whatever “juicy” stories you want. What you perhaps should think about is whether it is warranted, will achieve anything, and put you in a bad light for writing it.
For anyone who actually cares what Travis is babbling about, here’s the picture of me in my traditional Japanese wedding gears…
http://david-in-tokyo.blogspot.com/2007/04/wedding-photos-sneak-preview.html
… the pose is from baseball though 🙂
!!!!! David, I had no idea about the picture. It was just a phrase I came up with! Well, you’ve revealed it to us all now, and thanks for caring!!! Ah that such riches could fall in one’s lap!
btw – is that what you’re getting married in? Is the bride wearing jandals, tracky daks, and a flannelette shirt, topped with a beanie? However, you do honestly cut a smart figure.
It’s a bit like Anakin finally doning the black suit- “Rise Lord Vader”! (no offense intended here, as I gather you haven’t killed any padawans lately).
Re ” putting me into bad light ” -Libby
If you’re thinking about Greenpeace , then I must tell you that GP have recently asked me if I don’t find it creepy and sleazy to post comments and guest posts on a Monsanto sponsored blog!!!
No, I told them…actually Jennifer gives opportinies for many people with different opinions to give voice to their thoughts…
Ooops, read : opportunities
No Ann, not a bad light in so far as what GP might think but what readers in general might think. Juicy gossip (no matter who it is about) is loved by some, loathed by others. I have to wonder though what it says about the gossiper and what purpose it serves, although I admit I have done it (and felt crap about it afterwards). If this blog appears to be better and ‘fairer’ than others, there’s no hope for society!
Wise words , Libby…but hey juicy gossip could be quite fun….however, this is ” only” a blog, and we can’t be too serious;-)!!!
Something for you Libby???
Norwegian paper Fiskeribladet writes that one Norwegian whaling boat got nightly female guests onboard to watch the whale hunt closely!
“one Norwegian whaling boat got nightly female guests onboard to watch the whale hunt closely!”
Um… were the female guests there to watch the hunt or do the hunting (and I am not talking about whales here)? Sounds more like something Luke and George might be into, especially if there is PVC involved!
No Libby, this is not a story a la George and Luke,LOL! . It seemed like the women were related to the whalers, so it was not THAT exciting, but do you know that a skillful gunner used to be every Norwegian women’s dream!!! No, I’m not kidding….
“but do you know that a skillful gunner used to be every Norwegian women’s dream!!!”
Ann I would imagine a skillful “gunner” would be many womens’ dream, and probably a few men’s too!
24pm on Monday will the Norwegian coastal hunting field ,the EW zone, close. This means that practically a big part of the whaling fleet have ended this seasons whale hunting.
The hunting fields up in the east ( Finnmark) , Svalbard and in the North Sea will however be open.
Whalers believe the catches in these fields will be very low due to the holiday season.
It is estimated that the coastal whaling quote will be full during Monday .
http://www.fiskeribladet.no/?side=101&lesmer=4957