Japanese Antarctic whaling suspended due to pressure from sea shepherds

By JLBane

I have never seen a whale in the flesh. I, like so many people, have had to admire them in pictures or on TV. I live in hope that one day I might get to share a patch of ocean with one, even for a few seconds.

I was fearful for a while that I might be too late, that by the time my travels took me to countries where the whales once swam freely they would be nothing more than a memory.

Conservation groups are battling every day to keep these beautiful creatures in good numbers, fighting against fishing and whaling industries which have become so huge, that many species of aquatic life, not just whales, are disappearing.

The good news today is that Japan has been forced to suspend its Antarctic whaling operations due to continual interruptions by a conservation group.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has been a constant thorn in the Japanese whaling industry’s side for the past few years, but ramped up their disruptive tactics in the last two weeks; harassing the whaling vessels by hurling rancid butter in bottles onto the decks and tangling rope in the propeller of one ship, seriously slowing its movement.

Of course, Japan is now calling The Sea Shepherds terrorists, but let’s get a little perspective here. Firstly, nobody has been injured by the group, no lives have been lost, and no significant damage has been caused to any whaling vessels.

Secondly, saving the lives of 945 whales (Japan’s proposed number for culling, er I mean ‘scientifically observing’) is heroic and certainly not the actions of terrorists. There have been no reports of planes being flown into ships in the Antarctic recently either.

And what is that about? Since when did Japan own the Antarctic waters? Or at least think they have the right to exploit them?

A ban on all whale hunting was put in place back in 1986, but Japan have slipped through a hole in the net by claiming that their efforts are for ‘scientific purposes’. It reminds me of chemistry lessons in school; when doing experiments I always had my tripod, gauze, Bunsen burner and harpoon ship.

There are so many questions that need answering. What are the “scientists” looking for? Why do they have to kill the whales? What do they do with the bodies after they’ve completed their research? Why do they do the same research at the same time every year?

It’s fantastic that the Sea Shepherds have temporarily halted the whalers, and I live in hope that their efforts lead to a complete sewing up of the loophole that Japan so readily exploits.

Please let us know your thoughts or contribute to our collective knowledge by leaving a comment.

The food industry is a real mess and is heavily linked to the fishing and whaling industry. Read about how GM food is potentially destroying choices for those who seek organic produce.

images: huffingtonpost.com, viewmorepics.myspace.com