Situation With Whaling In Japan: Opinion Essay

Over the years, the number of whales have reduced drastically. On the last century, human beings have killed 3 million different types of whales, 90% of these whales were killed by the whale’s industry (Cressey, 2015). However, most of these actions are illegal whaling. The behavior of human being has already affected whale population. Currently, Japan is the leading country in whale fishing. Although Japan whaling balance the ecosystem, Japan still neglects the laws because there are a lot of whales in Japan. Whaling is part of Japan’s traditional culture, in addition to that, they use it as a source of income.

Japan whaling can help the ecosystem. Japan’s coastal waters are one of the most abundant areas of whale resources (Mihoko, kong, Clevo, & Shunsuke, 2017). Whale conservation has been going on for some time, and the number has been stable enough to allow controlled killing. For whales and dolphins, the biggest threat is fisheries, and then the normal navigation of ships. For instance, whale is a huge mammal and their predators are small. Whales effectively help in the transportation of carbon from surface of the water to the deep sea. Although fish account for only a small proportion of marine life, whaling has changed the ocean’s ability to save and sequester carbon (Pershing, Christensen, Record, Sherwood, & Stetson, 2010). This is the only benifit that japan did, japan whaling can help to balance the ecosystem

Japan has always been neglecting the law of whaling. On March 31, five whaling boats sent by Japan ‘returned with full capacity’, bringing back 333 minke whales killed in Antarctica, once again sparking outrage among many animal protection organizations and people around the world (Phillip, 2014). On 2014, Australia brought Japan to court for opposing Japan’s whaling program in Antarctic waters (Phillip, 2014). Consequently, Japan blatantly disregarded the norms of international law. International law considered Japan’s whaling behavior unscientific. Japan for this reason, immediately revised the decision plan and to implemented it as well. Australia offered to pay all the costs of Japanese whaling impact, but Japan was still hesitant (Mihoko, kong, Clevo, & Shunsuke, 2017). As part of their traditions, Japan disregarded the legal restrictions and other countries’ pillars. Notably, even if Japan uses scientific whaling methods, they still violate international whaling methods.

Besides, Japan eat whales and use whales to make money. In the traditional Japanese diet culture, fish, shrimp, mussels and shellfish caught in the sea are indeed the main source of protein for the public. Due to climate change, there have been occasional fishery wastes along the coast of Japan. To this effect, Whales have stranded in the shallow beach because of loss of direction are regarded as the Huize of the gods. People consume their meat, take their oil, celebrate, thank and worship them, which is the origin of Japanese whaling culture. The most critical aspect is that whaling has a significant impact on Japan’s agriculture and fisheries. The whale Research Institute is funded by the proceeds from the sale of meat and other products, which are all whaling, so without the financial support of whaling, the whale Research Institute will cease to operate ( Phillip, 2014). People’s greed makes these big animals can’t enjoy the normal life in the wild

Notably, Japan whaling is unscientific. In 1986, the International Whaling Commission adopted the Global Convention against Whaling, which prohibits commercial whaling, but only if it is based on scientific research. After the adoption of the convention, the effect is still obvious, and the number of commercial whaling has declined greatly. However, Japan, which is unable to abandon its marine culture, has an incomprehensible persistence in whaling, so Japan began to do scientific research ( Target news service, 2015). Nearly a third of the world’s whale hunts have been studied by Japan. In short, there are various reasons for every whaling trip.

The last trip was to ‘study the ecosystem of Antarctic waters’ and this time to ‘study whale populations’ (Phillip, 2015). Fifteen years later, Japan issued a statement that it ignored the ban and resumed ‘scientific’ whaling, with only a two-thirds reduction in the number, from 1,000 to 333 (Phillip, 2014). Japan use the flag of doing some scientific research to kill whales, to hurt these animals.

In addition to that, Japan claims that whaling is their part of their culture and traditional. Dolphin hunting is actually a long-standing history in Japan. Local fishermen make a living by hunting dolphins, which is their usual way of life. In ancient times, the local people hunted dolphins as a heritage and for survival. Today, in Taidi Di, fishing of dolphin by local people has gradually become profit-oriented, this is evident as they are the world’s largest supplier of dolphins, the income brought about by this activity can’t go un notice. Equally important they have to find other ways to live without killing these lovely creatures (Jiji press English news services, 2014). Japan use this reason to improve their financial resources and daily expenses.

In my opinion, whaling is a cruel activity. I was impressed by the best Oscar documentary, Dolphin Bay, which aired in 2009. Fishermen in Taiji are driving a group of dolphins into a dead corner of the coast by boat, and ultimately killing them one by one. The scene was horrific and unforgettable. Japan has repeatedly stressed that whales are not endangered species, they furthermore insist that, one side lives in natural waters which do no disturb human life nor infringing human territory.

To conclude, Japan whaling has bad influences. Japan sustain to whaling is because they just care about their own benefits. They neglect the law and other countries’ prevent, use innocent animals to make money and eat these animals. So it is necessary to control the crankiness of Japan whaling. Also, people have the responsibility to protect animals. Animals should be protected by people.

References

1. Cressey, Daniel. “World’s Whaling Slaughter Tallied.” Shibboleth Authentication Request, 2015, www-nature-com.proxyau.wrlc.org/news/world-s-whaling-slaughter-tallied-1.17080.
2. Pershing, A. J., Christensen, L. B., Record, N. R., Sherwood, G. D., & Stetson, P. B. (2010). The impact of whaling on the ocean carbon cycle: Why bigger was better. PLoS One, 5(8) doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxyau.wrlc.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0012444
3. Wakamatsua, Mihoko, et al. “Can Bargaining Resolve the International Conflict over Whaling?” Shibboleth Authentication Request, 2017, www-sciencedirect-com.proxyau.wrlc.org/science/article/pii/S0308597X17300556#bibliog0005.
4. Japan’s whaling vessels heading to antarctic – but without their harpoons. (2015, Jan 07). Targeted News Service Retrieved from http://proxyau.wrlc.org/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxyau.wrlc.org/docview/1643074839?accountid=8285
5. TOKYO REPORT: Japan’s whaling program facing crossroads. (2014, Jun 16). Jiji Press English News Service Retrieved from http://proxyau.wrlc.org/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.proxyau.wrlc.org/docview/1535700125?accountid=8285