1) The Icelandic Minke Whaler’s Association states on its website “A conceivable agreement within the IWC?”
A rough translation:
“There has been an intersessional IWC meeting in London in March. According to the Icelandic IWC Commissioner, Stefan Asmundsson, there are no proposals that the IWC will start to regulate commercial whaling, even if such hints/ rumours have circulated in the Icelandic media.
However, there is a will within the IWC for a change, as it is obvious that the current system doesn’t work in a satisfactory way.
The IWC was funded to manage whale hunting, through the Committee. There have been disagreements in the Scientific Committee, for example on humpback whaling, that has been banned since the 60’s.
The SC has however been united in many issues , for example re the minke whale stock around Iceland. The stock is robust and can be managed for whale hunting. The question is how large should the quota be.
The IWC must reach a compromise. It must start working in accordance with the original Convention it was based on. Otherwise the whaling nations must withdraw from the IWC and depend on its own scientists.
Listen to a humpback whale
2) The Norwegians are currently in the Southern Oceans conducting research on krill on the survey
ship “ the G.O Sars”. The Norwegians are one of the big actors in this field, with factory ships in the Southern Oceans.
To study the krill, platforms, sonar, hydrofons were launched. One of these platforms were visited by a curious humpback whale.
The humpbacks were very curious and approached the survey ship. It seemed according to the crew that
The Southern Hemisphere humpbacks did dare to come closer to the vessel than humpbacks in northern seas.
The SH humpbacks are as well bigger than the NH ones, and can reach 18 meter.
Listen to the humpback through the hydrofon ( scroll down to “ LYDKLIPP : KLICK FOR Å HORE! “ and click on the text! Amazing sounds that Libby might interpret?
Humpbacks dominate
3) As has been mentioned above, the survey or research ship , G.O Sars, is currently in the Southern Oceans, between Cape Town and the Antarctica.
They have observed lots of humpback whales, about 103 animals. The pods are about 2-4 whales, usually adults together with calves. The humpbacks are usually observed near the ice, where they consume krill. They can easily eat 500 kg in a short while / “ in a gulp”. Krill is the primary food during the summer season.
The humpbacks are also very curious about the research ship. The ship has observed sperm whales, minkes, humpbacks and Fins, according to the ships diary, states Norwegian fisheries paper, Fiskeribladet.
Cheers,
Ann Novek
Sweden
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
Interesting sounds Ann. Thanks.
re krill in the Antarctica, the main reason why the Norwegians are doing a survey:
” The Antarctic, one of the planet’s last unspoilt ecosystems, is under threat from mankind’s insatiable appetite for harvesting the seas.
The population of krill, a tiny crustacean, is in danger from the growing demand for health supplements and food for fish farms.
Global warming has already been blamed for a dramatic fall in numbers because the ice that is home to the algae and plankton they feed on is melting. Now “suction” harvesting, which gathers up vast quantities, has been introduced to meet the increased demand. It threatens not just krill, but the entire ecosystem that depends on them, say environmental campaigners.
Krill are also believed to be important in removing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by eating carbon-rich food near the surface and excreting it when they sink to lower, colder water to escape predators.
“Whales, penguins, seals, albatrosses and petrels — all those creatures we think are absolute icons of Antarctica — depend on krill,” said Richard Page, a marine reserves expert with Greenpeace International. “It’s part of the global commons, and one of the most pristine environments on Earth. That’s why we should treat it with the greatest of respect.”
However, scientists say they are monitoring the fishing but so far the total catch is a small proportion of the population”
To bw continued
Part II:
” Scientists believe krill have declined by 80% since the 1970s, and the most likely cause is global warming. There is uncertainty, though, about the remaining population: the BAS estimates 100-million tonnes; krill harvesting companies claim about 400-million to 500-million tonnes.
Under the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, the annual allowed krill catch in the Southern Ocean is four million tonnes. But until now there has been “huge under-fishing”, usually less than 20% of that quota, said Tarling.
However, there is growing interest and new products being developed. Most krill fished are used as fish-farm feed and to produce omega-3 oil and other health supplements. Last month alone, the Antarctic Krill Conservation Project reported four firms planning to expand operations. New on-board processing and fast-freezing technology are enabling ships to take bigger catches.
However, Helge Midttun, chief executive of Norwegian-based processor Aker BioMarine, said it is careful not to damage krill stocks, including developing a net around its suction system to stop other species being harvested. “It’s in our interests that these fisheries are taking place in a way that’s not destroying the environment,” said Midttun”
To be continued
Part III:
” But Page warned: “What we don’t want to do is what we have done in pretty much every fishery in the world. We thought the natural resources of the sea were unlimited; we have proved time and time again that’s not the case.”
A crucial species
# Krill live in all the world’s oceans, but Antarctic krill are the most numerous, with an estimated population of up to 500-million tonnes.
# Antarctic krill grow to 6cm. If they were all put together, they could fill Wembley football stadium 1 500 times.
# Krill eat algae and plankton and are eaten by predators such as whales. One whale can eat four tonnes of krill a day.
# Krill are thought to “sequester” carbon equivalent to the emissions of 35-million cars a year.
# Average Antarctic Peninsula temperatures have risen by 2,5 degrees Celsius in the past 50 years.
Source: http://www.mg.co.za/
On the topic of whaling…
I doubt anyone (serious) still thought the suggestion that Australia might take Japan to court is plausible, but here in Japan the Asahi newspaper (original Japanese, not the IHT/Asahi English version) reports that Kevin Rudd is “optimistic that (the whaling dispute) can be resolved diplomatically”, (in the words of the Asahi) “making clear his desire to aim to resolve the matter through diplomatic means rather than others such as taking Japan to an international court”
Also, during his interview he said that “It’s important to establish the fact of whether research whaling is scientific research or commercial whaling”, repeating his Australian government’s position that Japan’s research whaling is commercial whaling (he was hardly going to say anything other :)). But also, he said that “it’s an extremely difficult problem”, and acknowledged that it would be difficult for both nations to quickly find a compromise.
Here’s the link:
http://www.asahi.com/international/update/0325/TKY200803250475.html
Interestingly I see the AFP has a story on the Asahi story:
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5glWxc-unvZhFz4ahLco4BLGJWklg
It’s somewhat different 🙂 It notes that it’s not based on an English transcript of the interview (which is obvious to me just reading it), so here’s a few points that I would note for those who are interested…
1) “Australia PM pledges to resolve whaling row with Japan”, says the AFP headline, but there is nothing in the Asahi article to suggest a “pledge” to resolve it, Rudd is only quoted as recognising it would be hard to resolve, and suggesting it be done so “diplomatically”, rather than through courts etc.
2) For some reason the AFP doesn’t mention the inference from the Asahi that Australia isn’t looking to take it to court, instead reporting that Rudd “pledged” to resolve the issue “peacefully”. The Asahi doesn’t suggest he “pledged” to resolve it, and is quoted using a word meaning “diplomatically” rather than “peacefully” (as if Australia might look to use force over whaling!?!).
3) Rudd is quoted in the AFP article saying “I understand that there are hard-line opinions in Japan, while there are hard-line opinions in Australia and in the international community”, but the Asahi doesn’t say anything about the international community or hardline opinions, only that Rudd recognises it would be hard for the “two countries” to find a compromise.
…
The way the Australian government has handled the issue has got up the nose of many here (although Sea Shepherd’s actions have been grabbing the headlines), and Australia has been quite heavily mocked on popular message boards. Steven Smith’s request for “both sides” (ICR fleet vessels and Sea Shepherd vessels) to “exercise restraint” was a good example – a journalist writing for another newspaper here was speculating on his blog about arrests in Australia following the Steve Irwin’s return (I’ve been away but I understand that nothing happened?). The journo wondered what Australia would expect of Japan if an Australian vessel were being subjected to persistent harrassment while conducting legal activities in the high seas near Japan, and the harrassment vessel then went to dock at a Japanese port.
One other observation I would make is that Rudd’s talk about “establishing the facts” of whether research whaling is scientific research or commercial whaling seems pointless to me (even if I were to take the official Aussie view that it’s commercial). Some Japanese people with a casual interest in the issue do think that research whaling is just a way to get around the moratorium, but they support whaling as they think the moratorium is unjust.
If Rudd is serious about resolving the issue he needs first to understand what the disagreement is about, which he doesn’t seem to at the moment.
Norwegian whaling season 2008 will begin April 1st. To stimulate an early start, whale meat prices will increase with 2NOK / kg. ” Lowest price ” or ” minimum price ” is 32 NOK/kg until June 1st.
http://fiskeribladetfiskaren.no/?side=101&lesmer=6715
More from the japanese media today – apparently people here in the know about foreign affairs have said that they believe Rudd underestimated the intensity of backlash that would occur in japan due to Australia’s change in approach (so openly spying on your friends, when you could just sit down and talk with them!?), and he is now trying to put off more confrontation on the issue.
I think they’ve got the first bit wrong though. Rudd was just trying to fulfil his election promises, it wasn’t like a party that was out of power was giving serious consideration to Australia’s friends. Now resorting to diplomacy instead of courts is no surprise, it’s just a matter of him being able to do this without being seen as wimping out by the part of the constituency that voted for him for it (can’t be that many though?)
Popular message boards here are rife with comments with reference to Australia now putting whales ahead of the people of tibet as well as Japanese.
Hi Ann,
I guess retail prices for meat will be up here in Japan this year too (the stockpile is lower now than at the same time last year, and apparently only about the same level of meat to be supplied).
No more recent media reports about meat exports to Japan (either way), but even if it is going to happen I guess the Japanese aren’t about to come out and announce it ahead of the Santiago meeting. If the Santiago meeting turns out to be a complete waste of time (my pick) then an annoucement afterwards should be possible though…
Headline from this mornings fisheries media in Norway:
” Shall we —or shall we not go whaling”
The Whaler’s Union Head is highly unsatisfied with the minimum prices set this year for whale meat. According to him they are set too low.
He doubts that any whaler will go whaling already at the begining of the whaling season ( April 1st).
He states that as it is now , whaling is only an occupation, and not something that you make money on or do for a living.
Bunkering and traveling costs are too high and much of the coastal hunting fields are closed. Only 155 minkes are allowed to be hunted in coastal areas.
http://fiskeribladetfiskaren.no/?side=101&lesmer=6737
Yup, sitting down and talking has done a lot for progress. Wimping out? Nah, just bypass Japan altogether and give them some of their own treatment right back. As he is talking to China, one hardly thinks he is ‘putting whales ahead of the people of Tibet’, but the last part is right. I think I’ll go cry into my sake. Zippo!
Yes, I did read that correctly, Ann quoted Greenpeace claiming an 80% decline in Krill numbers since the 1970s.
“Scientists believe krill have declined by 80% since the 1970s, and the most likely cause is global warming.”
So tell us, Ann, has there been an 80% decline in algal growth? Has there been an 80% decline in ice cover? Has there been a commensurate increase in whale and crab eater seal numbers?
You give an appearance of balanced scientific debate and then you blow your credibility right out of the water by dishing up this sort of blatant ideological bimboism. “Scientists believe”, indeed. So which scientists and what have they been smoking?
Here goes Mott again. More smacks for you Ann.
>blatant ideological bimboism
The term ‘bimbo’ is primarily used for women. Aren’t you getting enough from your Thai bride Mott?
What are you blaming Ann for? She didn’t say the 80% decline was her work. (It’s just sssooo much easier to pick on the girls isn’t it Mott?) Where does it say Greenpeace have made this claim? It also provides information on how this decline may have come about:-
‘ Scientists believe krill have declined by 80% since the 1970s, and the most likely cause is global warming. There is uncertainty, though, about the remaining population: the BAS estimates 100-million tonnes; krill harvesting companies claim about 400-million to 500-million tonnes.’
>So tell us, Ann, has there been an 80% decline in algal growth? Has there been an 80% decline in ice cover? Has there been a commensurate increase in whale and crab eater seal numbers?
Why don’t YOU tell us Mott? You are the EXPERT on krill. RAOTFL!!!
You give an appearance of balanced scientific debate and then you blow your credibility right out of the water by dishing up this sort of blatant ideological bimboism. “Scientists believe”, indeed. So which scientists and what have they been smoking?
Posted by: Ian Mott at April 1, 2008 10:56 AM
LOL! LOL! Unlike you Motty, I don’t cherry pick my quotes. In this particular article , I have cut and pasted the entire article, statements from a variety of actors….
Whaling season has started today in Norway , but no whaling boat has sailed out to harpoon whales.
Perhaps in a few days some boats will leave port…whalers are highly unsatisfied with low whale meat prices.
It is as well a late spring this year, actually it’s full winter.
We have observed some whales , states the Whaler’s Union Head, mostly the easy sighted Fin whales.
http://fiskeribladetfiskaren.no/?side=101&lesmer=6768
Cool! Iceland may offer whale watching tours in submarine:
http://icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=16539&ew_0_a_id=303391
Any search of this blog will make it clear that I invariably use the term Bimbo in a general sense, without gender. But the rest of Travis’ sentence makes it very clear that he not only has some serious gender issues but also some rather ugly race ones as well.
And back to the topic, it is one thing to blindly quote Greenpeace speculation about the future impact of climate change on krill stocks but another altogether to claim that the past modest warming events have already reduced stocks by 80%. To claim, as Ann has, that she just copied the piece, is a blatant cop-out.
The fact that Humpback whale populations have been increasing at more than 10% per annum is a pretty clear indicator that their major food source, krill, have not undergone an 80% reduction over the same period.
To post such a claim is to seriously insult the intelligence of readers of this blog. And it got the response it deserved.