By the Numbers: Whaling

Last month Japan announced that it will withdraw from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and resume commercial whaling this summer. The Japanese government accused the IWC of focusing on conserving whale numbers rather than developing sustainable whaling practices. The Japanese government added that when it begins whaling operations in July, it will do so only in “Japanese territorial and economic zones” and will end its annual hunts in the Antarctic.

Japan uses a loophole for its whaling operations, claiming it is conducting scientific research. It established the Institute for Cetacean Research (ICR), whose website states: “After biological sampling, the carcass of captured whales is disposed of according to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling regulations (Article VIII Paragraph 2) which require that byproducts be processed and utilized so far as practicable. Thus, byproducts of both whale research programs are processed and sold within Japan under guidance of the Japanese government and the proceeds of the sale are used to cover a portion of the research costs.”

Critics, including the United Nations International Court of Justice, have said the country’s “scientific” program is simply a cover for commercial hunts.

We take a look at the IWC and whaling.

2

The number of countries besides Japan that continue commercial whaling under the objection of the International Whaling Commission’s 1986 moratorium. They are Norway and Iceland. Norway takes common minke whales (591 in 2016, the latest year for data); and Iceland hunts both the common minke (46 in 2016) and the North Atlantic fin whale (155 in 2015, and none in 2016). The Russian Federation has also objected to the moratorium but abides by it and has not reported whale catches since the moratorium (3,028 minke whales in the 1986 season).

4

The number of areas where aboriginal subsistence whaling is allowed: Greenland, Chukotka (Russian Federation), Alaska and Washington state (wrapped into one region), and Bequia (St. Vincent and the Grenadines).

40

The percentage of tourists visiting Iceland in 2009 who admitted eating whale meat during their visit, where it is promoted as a “traditional” dish. After a campaign to discourage eating whale meat, the number of tourists who admitted to eating whale meat during their visit dropped to 18 percent in 2014.

1946

The year when the International Whaling Commission was established under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.

1986

The year when the IWC established a moratorium on commercial whaling due to depleted numbers caused by commercial whaling.

38,539

The number of whales killed by Iceland, Japan and Norway since the 1986 moratorium.

Sources: iwc.int, us.whales.org, icrwhale.org, smithsonianmag.com