Most Japanese whale kills in Aussie haven (90%)

The Australian ^ | August 09, 2006 (it's tomorrow there) | Greg Roberts

[Ben Mugged]

NINE of every 10 whales killed by Japan last summer were in Australia's Antarctic whale sanctuary. Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell said a report by the Japanese Whale Research Program confirmed 50 humpback whales would be killed next summer, as well as 850 Antarctic minkes and 50 fin whales. He said maps in the report showed 90 per cent of kills last summer were in the Australian sanctuary.

"The killing of whales by Japan in the Australian sanctuary is in clear breach of International Whaling Commission policy," said Senator Campbell.

He told The Australian he was particularly concerned by the report's revelation that of 853 minke whales killed, 227 were pregnant. "They are not only killing large numbers of whales, they are wiping out the next generation," Senator Campbell said. "It is inhumane and it should not be tolerated."

But he said the Government would oppose an action in the Federal Court by the Humane Society International against Japanese whaling company Kyodo Senpaku. The suit attempts to force Canberra to take action to stop Japanese whaling in the sanctuary. ~snip~ The report revealed the 227 pregnant whales killed included one with an extremely rare set of twins.

[Ben Mugged]

Is whale meat really that important to Japan's economy?

[darth]

There are over 100,000 minkes...not even a threatened population. Why should'nt someone harvest them? In order to revive the big balleen populations, e.g., blue whales, they need to kill off the orcas that eat balleen calves.

[BCR #226]

Simple solution... if they catch them in the sanctuary killing whales, sink the ships. No fuss, no muss.

Mike

[mojo_the_migo]

I don't have a problem with hunting whales, but is Japan doing some international tresspassing at all? I think if Japan is killing whales in Aussie waters, then I think that might be a legit problem. If the Aussies put their whale sanctuary in international waters, the animal huggers need to dry up.

[Vaquero]

Do you have a license for that minke

[GATOR NAVY]

The killing of whales by Japan in the Australian sanctuary is in clear breach of International Whaling Commission policy,"

I think this quote answers your question about where the sanctuary is. If the Japanese were violating territorial waters or the EEZ, the Aussies would say so. This is some kind of unilateral declaration of a sanctuary in international waters with no legal support.

[TalonDJ]

Those are international waters.

[BCR #226]

And isn't there an international ban on whaling? Not that I really have a dog in the fight though. It's just that many of these people don't understand anything but brute force.

Mike

[TalonDJ]

It's just that many of these people don't understand anything but brute force.

Huh? You really think Australia should commit an act of war against Japan? Over whales? International bans are not worth the paper they are printed on, but even so, Japan is allowed to harvest certain numbers of whales every year under that ban. As are Eskimos and I think some Scandinavian countries.

[BCR #226]

They are allowed to harvest a number of whales... but that does not give them free reign to hunt in sanctuaries.

I would think that theft of national or international resources is a crime and possibly an act of war as well, so why not put a stop to it once and for all?

Mike