Japan may resume commercial whaling if IWC talks do not progress

Sunday 22nd June, 06:27 AM JST

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smithinjapan at 01:35 PM JST - 22nd June

Zen: "I also know about other countries over-fishing blue-fin Tuna(that is sold to Japan), Sharks, Cod, Stork, etc. Look at the fishing bans across the globe because stocks are too low to sustain the fish.crab, etc population."

Hey, bud... don't cry over losing a battle. You asked for an example, and you got one. 'The whole world is overfishing' argument doesn't fly as a defense for your, "Not something we can say for other fish/meat we eat as many species are now TRULY endangered but won't raise an eye-brow." challenge for an argument of a country that not only enjoys overfishing, but seems to think it's 'tradition' (how they used to overfish in Australian waters in the Edo period is beyond me!).

Moderator: Stay on topic please.
smithinjapan at 01:41 PM JST - 22nd June

Japanese Science:

A: This whale is bigger than the last one. B: You're right! The last one is smaller. Let's write that down! A: I bet the next one will be a different size than the first two! B: NO! You must be joking! Is that a possibility? Let's pull out a health meter to check! A: Hehehehe... my young comrade... you have so much to learn. By the way, I'm hungry, what's on the menu? B: We're not eating whale? A: That sh&&?! That's for school lunches. Give me a hamburger any day. B: How about sloppy Joes? A: You're my new best friend!
Rekishika at 02:42 PM JST - 22nd June

Well, in some ironic ways resuming commercial hunting is better to stomach than calling it 'scientific research' and trying to evade the discussion by making it a semantic problem...

The 'scientific research' is not a program that can find easy credibility. We're talking about 1000 'samples' a year, if extrapolated on other research, that gives enough information for a science program with the entire population as researchers... Also, where there is science, there are publications, where are they...? And finally, the most taunting questions about whales at the moment are about their communication. There's every hint that whales have developed highly complex languages, yet we don't know how or why, and we can barely scratch the surface to find out anything about the meaning. Yet this truly groundbreaking research can not be performed on dead whales...

There will be plenty of opportunities to have firy discussions on the whaling in general. Personally I'd say we'd have to take the development on the language (which suggests a sentient being on parr or even more intelligent than humans) into account. One can argue with that, and there are some valid argumentations to be made. But let's at least all be honest with each other what we are doing.
northlondon at 04:24 PM JST - 22nd June

The whale conversation lobby have their argument. And the realists and pro-whale fishing lobby have their argument too. But let's be honest. In a nation (Japan) where you can eat anything you wish for, meat, fish, vegetables, fruit. Where restaurants and convenience stores are brimming with all types and all choices of food. Where the average Japanese person never has to worry where their next meal is coming from. Do we really have to catch and eat whale meat ? In Greenland and Alaska one can understand the economic choices for hunting certain types of animal. But in Japan ? With the Japanese government supporting it ?
nutsagain at 04:36 PM JST - 22nd June

Why am I cynical about this? Well fer' starters the likes of Rjd support it, so there's gotta be something wrong from the get go. After his last little performance yesterday the guy has zero credibility....

Japan thinks its whaling culture is unique, it's not. Japan lies to the wold about 'scientific whaling'. The worlds oceans are in far bigger trouble than any of us realize and if yer in any doubt about that google plastic soup and see for yerselves. Personally, with this kind of idiocy and failure to look at the cards on the table, we're a doomed species ourselves and that's a a fact. Dream on Japan. Dream on whaling supporters.
Betting at 06:01 PM JST - 22nd June

If the commercial resumes, it'll be interesting to see the what consequences there'll be from other countries.
PepinGalarga at 06:20 PM JST - 22nd June

let's find some endangered animal that Japan treasures and JUST SAY we will start "collecting" them for research" 15 miles from Japan in international waters; then to have it's meat sold in every kaiten sushi place. let's see how the j-gov react to that now. wasn't there some white Japanese crane near extinction? who knows, they might be mighty tasty! let's research them!

what if a country like China would make that announcement. it could start WW3.

feels like the 1930's all over again.

the j-gov doesn't realize the consequences of its actions.
PepinGalarga at 06:27 PM JST - 22nd June

by the way their statement is analogous to Iran or NK saying that they will resume development of nuclear weapons if "IAEA talks do not progress".
ToughGuyBanker at 10:53 PM JST - 22nd June

About time. There is money to be made here, and Japan has the market. Whales are eating too many fish. We need to cull them to save the fish, so we might as well get meat from them as we protect the environment.
serindipity at 10:28 AM JST - 23rd June

Japan may resume commercial whaling if IWC talks do not progress.

Japan may have to start seriously defending their whaling fleet if they go ahead with plans to resume commercial whaling. The southern ocean will be mined to keep the twits out.

ToughGuyBanker - Whales are eating too many fish. We need to cull them to save the fish, so we might as well get meat from them as we protect the environment.

Are you serious or is this some kind of sarcasm?
ihope2eatwhales at 11:58 AM JST - 23rd June

GJ Japan! Fantastic!

Finally we shall have more normal supply of tasty whale!
thundercat at 02:47 PM JST - 23rd June

Well, at least if they resume 'commerical' whaling (is if it ever finished) at least we won't have to hear from all those idiot loudmouths who work for the Institute of Cetacean Reseach. Those guys are all going to be out of jobs soon. Guess they'll be wishing that the 'research' whaling was still going on! Happy job hunting!
ToughGuyBanker at 06:21 PM JST - 23rd June

serindipity:

Dead serious. Look at the research on the issue.
seabouy at 01:17 PM JST - 26th June

One side bar...I like the way JapanToday will allow both sides of the Whaling issue to be discussed. Japanprobe.com will just delete your comments if they don't agree.
bushlover at 05:57 PM JST - 27th June

(how they used to overfish in Australian waters in the Edo period is beyond me!). Lots is beyond you. They didn't have planes or radar in those days dude!! have another toke!! then come back when you learn the time line of the 20th century.