OceanCare appalled by Japan's plans to add fin whales to its North Pacific whale hunt
- Japan announced to expand its North Pacific whaling to include fin whales.
- Whales are important in maintaining the health of the marine ecosystems on which all life on Earth depends, OceanCare experts emphasize.
- OceanCare urges the Japanese government to refrain from the planned expansion of its whaling activities.
PRESS RELEASE – 9 May 2024
OceanCare appalled by Japan's plans to add fin whales to its North Pacific whale hunt
OceanCare has been appalled to learn of an announcement today that Japan will expand its North Pacific whaling to include fin whales. Japan currently catches three other large whale species in the waters of its Economic Exclusion Zone –Brydes, sei and minke whales – but fin whale meat is reportedly highly valued in Japan and in recent years has been imported from Iceland.
The key announcement came today from government spokesperson, Yoshimasa Hayashi. This expansion of Japan’s whaling appears contingent on a public consultation of a draft revision of its ‘aquatic resource control policies’. If agreed, as seems most likely, it would allow fin whales to be hunted.
Nicolas Entrup , Director of International Relations at OceanCare commented:
“When Japan left the IWC, many hoped that this marked a winding down of its whaling activities. But while sitting on stored unsold whale products from Iceland in their freezers, Japan decision makers continue their aggressive expansion of an unnecessary and cruel activity that meets no pressing human needs. We urge the Japanese government to refrain from the planned expansion of its whaling activities. Japan’s ongoing whaling pursuit makes it a pariah in the developed world.”
Mark Simmonds OBE , Director of Science at OceanCare added:
“Fin whales are magnificent animals, the second largest animal ever to have lived and as has recently been illustrated by fin whale hunting in Iceland, killing these massive animals is very difficult and their suffering can be considerable. Whales are also important in maintaining the health of the marine ecosystems on which all life on Earth depends. We need them. They deserve to be left in peace and all whaling should be consigned to the history books.”
ENDS
Media contact
- Dániel Fehér, Strategic Communications Lead OceanCare: +49 176 81434026; dfeher@oceancare.org
Notes to editors
In 2022 (the last year for which the IWC has data), Japan took 25 sei whales, 187 Bryde’s whales and 58 minke whales.
When Japan left the IWC it also ended its hunt in the Southern Ocean, only continuing its commercial takes in the North Pacific within its EEZ. For many years both Japan’s hunts in both the North Pacific and Southern Ocean were described by Japan as ‘scientific whaling’, but this notion is discredited; this earlier whaling was also commercial.
Today’s announcement is also related to the fact that Japan has recently launched its new ‘state of the art’ whaling mothership the Kangei Maru, which cost approximately 45 Mio. € to build. The ship weighs approximately 9,300 tons and is 112.6 meters long and able to handle very large whales, including fin whales. The Kangei Maru is also said to be capable of reaching the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, where Japan previously hunted before it left the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 2019.
Sources:
- Reuters: Japan to start hunting fin whales after five years of commercial whaling
- NHK: Fisheries Agency makes fin whales a new target for commercial whaling
About OceanCare
OceanCare is an international marine conservation non-governmental organisation, founded in Switzerland in 1989. The organisation pursues the protection and restoration of the marine environment and marine wildlife with a strong policy focus, combining research, conservation projects and education. OceanCare’s remit includes marine pollution, climate change, marine mammal hunting and the environmental consequences of fisheries. Its work is supported by a team of scientific, legal and policy experts, and involves strategic collaboration with civil society organisations and coalitions around the world. OceanCare is an officially accredited partner and observer to several UN conventions and other international fora. www.oceancare.org --
OceanCare Dániel Fehér, Strategic Communications Lead Gerbestrasse 6, P.O.Box 372 CH-8820 Waedenswil - Switzerland +49 176 81434026 dfeher@oceancare.org www.oceancare.org