Headline Roundup • July 1st, 2019
Japan Restarts Commercial Whaling After Decades
Summary from the AllSides News Team
After three decades, Japan has resumed its commercial whaling program. Last year, Japan withdrew from the International Whaling Commission (IWC), which banned whale hunting, but the country was granted an exemption for research purposes. Conservationists argue that whale hunts Japan claimed were scientific in nature were actually commercial hunts in disguise. While Japan is well known for commercial whaling, many Norwegians and Icelanders also say whale hunting is an important part of their culture and should not be banned.
Some commentators have questioned whether the current Japanese market still has the same demand for whale meat as it did 30 years ago, while pointing out that much of the world has condemned whaling as a practice.
Voices across the political spectrum point out that while commercial whaling openly defies the IWC ban, the whales Japan will hunt are not considered endangered or threatened in the U.S. by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Japan has continued whaling for what it claims are scientific purposes since a worldwide moratorium was placed on whaling in 1986.
Featured Coverage of this Story
New York Post (News)
Japan resumed commercial whaling for the first time in more than three decades — despite low demand and condemnation from conservationists.
The whaling boats set out on a commercial hunting expedition Monday following the country’s controversial decision to exit the International Whaling Commission, an organization dedicated to whale conservation.
Its withdrawal was announced last year, with Japan claiming that whale stocks had recovered enough to hunt the marine mammal again.
BBC News
A small fleet of whaling vessels have caught their first whales in Japan's first commercial hunt in decades, in defiance of international criticism.
The whaling ships have a permit to catch 227 minke, Bryde's and sei whales this year in Japanese waters.
Japan's last commercial hunt was in 1986, but it has continued whaling for what it says are research purposes.
It has now withdrawn from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) so is no longer subject to its rules.
IWC members had agreed to an effective ban on whale hunting,...
NBC News Digital
Five small Japanese whaling ships set sail for the first time in more than three decades Monday following that country's controversial decision to resume the hunt for the huge marine mammal.
Crew in orange life vests took positions on the decks as the blue-hulled ships sailed out of the northern port city of Kushiro, some with red banners fluttering from their masts.
