Saturday, April 22, 2006
FAQ #1
Q: Why does Japan keep up the farce of so called “scientific” whaling? Why don’t they just say they want to kill whales and be done with it?
A: Japan does indeed wish to resume commercial whaling, in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW), and makes no secret of the fact.
Put simply, Japan's research includes the objective to improve scientific understanding of whale stocks, which would facilitate higher catch limits (without increasing the risk of depleting the stock) than would otherwise be possible under the IWC's existing catch limit setting procedure.
In more detail, some background information:
In 1997, the IWC Scientific Committee reviewed the original JARPA programme at its half-way point and confirmed that the JARPA programme did indeed have the potential to improve on the RMP procedure in a number of ways. Full details of the review are available here.
Indeed the Japanese government's primary interest is in making for the acquisition of whale meat, but not only that, it is interested in making for higher catch limits through improved scientific understanding. These goals are entirely consistent with the ICRW text, which states that catch limits should be set in such a way as to "provide for the conservation, development, and optimum utilization of the whale resources", in addition to being "based on scientific findings" (Article V, para 2). ¶ 5:30 AM
A: Japan does indeed wish to resume commercial whaling, in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW), and makes no secret of the fact.
Put simply, Japan's research includes the objective to improve scientific understanding of whale stocks, which would facilitate higher catch limits (without increasing the risk of depleting the stock) than would otherwise be possible under the IWC's existing catch limit setting procedure.
In more detail, some background information:
- The ICRW text recognises that "whale stocks are susceptible of natural increases if whaling is properly regulated", and includes a Schedule in which catch limits for various whale stocks can be set and modified with agreement from 75% of the IWC membership.
- Currently the commercial catch limits for all whale stocks are zero - this is described in Paragraph 10 (e) of the Schedule, and is what is commonly refered to as the "moratorium on commercial whaling". The zero catch limit was originally set because of "uncertainties in the scientific analyses and therefore the precise status of the various whale stocks".
- The IWC’s Scientific Committee consequently devised a “Revised Management Procedure” to address the aforementioned uncertainties. They completed this work in 1992, unanimously recommending the work to the IWC, and in 1994 the IWC chose to adopt the RMP as it’s catch limit setting procedure.
- Because the RMP takes into account a huge range of scientific uncertainties, the catch limits that it produces are very conservative.
In 1997, the IWC Scientific Committee reviewed the original JARPA programme at its half-way point and confirmed that the JARPA programme did indeed have the potential to improve on the RMP procedure in a number of ways. Full details of the review are available here.
Indeed the Japanese government's primary interest is in making for the acquisition of whale meat, but not only that, it is interested in making for higher catch limits through improved scientific understanding. These goals are entirely consistent with the ICRW text, which states that catch limits should be set in such a way as to "provide for the conservation, development, and optimum utilization of the whale resources", in addition to being "based on scientific findings" (Article V, para 2). ¶ 5:30 AM
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khoward,
Thank you for your comment.
As noted in the original FAQ entry - ultimately, as the IWC Scientific Committee review of 1997 indicated, the JARPA research programme was judged to have the potential to improve management under the Revised Management Procedure in a number of ways.
Members of the general public need to reconcile any skepticism they may with this finding, from what is the world's leading group of scientists concerned with whale management issues.
Incidently, another IWC Scientific Committee review of the completed JARPA programme is scheduled for December 2006. We can but look forward to the results.
Thank you for your comment.
As noted in the original FAQ entry - ultimately, as the IWC Scientific Committee review of 1997 indicated, the JARPA research programme was judged to have the potential to improve management under the Revised Management Procedure in a number of ways.
Members of the general public need to reconcile any skepticism they may with this finding, from what is the world's leading group of scientists concerned with whale management issues.
Incidently, another IWC Scientific Committee review of the completed JARPA programme is scheduled for December 2006. We can but look forward to the results.
i think you miss-out something! who ask japan to do the world wild whale population control, or world wild whale research by killing it?
no one invite them to do that especially countries close to the south ocean.
who ask them to do the bloody research?
no one invite them to do that especially countries close to the south ocean.
who ask them to do the bloody research?
@meme
The aforementioned moratorium on commercial whaling requires scientific research be done in order to end the moratorium.
Japan, being a sovereign nation like all others, has the right to do such research.
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The aforementioned moratorium on commercial whaling requires scientific research be done in order to end the moratorium.
Japan, being a sovereign nation like all others, has the right to do such research.
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