Japan to hunt 60 minke whales off northeastern coast for 'research'

Wednesday 22nd April, 07:14 AM JST

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Potsu at 11:44 AM JST - 24th April

"Japan's being regarded favourably by most around the world as shown in recent opinion polls". Which opinion polls are they ??????
davidattokyo at 11:50 AM JST - 24th April

wasurenaide,

Wish they'd publish a report on the research they do.

They do publish reports, but people who go around asking for them never seem to be able to find them by themselves. It's almost as if they aren't looking properly or something. Here's a handful of references I semi-randomly selected:

Murase, H., Tamura, T., Kiwada, H., Fujise, Y., Watanabe, H., Ohizumi, H., Yonezaki, S., Okamura, H. and Kawahara, S. 2007. Prey selection of common minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and Bryde's (Balaenoptera edeni) whales in the western North Pacific in 2000 and 2001. Fish. Oceanogr. 16(2): 186-201.

Niimi, S., Watanabe, M.X., Kim, E.Y., Iwata, H., Yasunaga, G., Fujise, Y. and Tanabe, S. 2005. Molecular cloning and mRNA expression of cytochrome P4501A1 and 1A2 in the liver of common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Marine Pollution Bulletin 51(2005): 784-793.

Kanda, N., Goto, M., Kato, H., McPhee, M.V. and Pastene, L.A. 2007. Population genetic structure of Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera brydei) at the inter-oceanic and trans-equatorial levels. Conservation Genetics 8:853-864.

Kanda, N., Goto, M. and Pastene, L.A. 2006. Genetic characteristics of western North Pacific sei whales, Balaenoptera borealis, as revealed by microsatellites. Marine Biotechnology 8:86-93.

Nishida, S., Goto, M., Pastene, L.A., Kanda, N. and Koike, H. 2007. Phylogenetic relationships among cetaceans revealed by Y-chromosome sequences. Zoological Science 24:723-732.
davidattokyo at 11:55 AM JST - 24th April

The Fisheries Research Agency has today announced some results of some calculations it's done on the CO2 emissions from whale meat production.

Apparently even for Antarctic baleen whales the results compare extremely favourably in comparison to alternative meats like beef, e.g. about 1/10th of the CO2 emissions.

The Japanese news report suggests that the government will try to use these figures to appeal to the sensitivities of the anti-whalers, who claim to be for the environment.

I don't think it will work:

1) Amongst anti-whalers are Japan's largest sources of beef imports, e.g. Australia and the U.S.A, itself a whaling nation. They won't be keen to see their beef exports to Japan drop. 2) Anti-whalers aren't about the environment, they are about environmental symbolism, feeling good is what counts, and so long as they feel good about being against whaling there is no rational reason that will stand in their way.
davidattokyo at 12:02 PM JST - 24th April

cleo,

I imagine you're right.

Yeah :)

But I hardly think ... would be classed by anyone with any sense as members of the 'commercial anti-whaling industry'.

Taking funding from them seems close enough.

Sounds to me that the research was done scrupulously and ethically. Earth Trust provided the funds for the field work, but played no part in the analysis.

Whatever you say :)
cleo at 12:16 PM JST - 24th April

The Fisheries Research Agency has today announced some results of some calculations it's done...

But by david's logic, we can't accept any info that comes from these people, seeing as how they have a history of accepting funding from the pro-whaling industry. Anything they come up with is obviously tainted and suspect.

the results compare extremely favourably in comparison to alternative meats like beef, e.g. about 1/10th of the CO2 emissions

Sounds about on a level with the 'Bush wasn't quite as bad as Saddam' arguments of the American far right. Why not just leave the flesh-eating to the carnivores?
davidattokyo at 01:21 PM JST - 24th April

cleo,

Heh, I forgot #3 and #4 why it won't work: 3) and the anti-whalers won't accept the figures anyway because a Japanese govt. funded organization produced the figures 4) we aren't supposed to be eating meat anyway because we should all be vegetarians (anyone who isn't must be from the "far right")
sassarma at 03:21 PM JST - 24th April

It is unfortunate that the helpless and hapless whales are harassed in the name of "research". We need to respect the sentiments of animals
Potsu at 05:59 PM JST - 24th April

Japan's being regarded favourably by most around the world as shown in recent opinion polls". So these opinion polls are made up ??
Potsu at 09:32 PM JST - 24th April

davidattokyo : "Heh, I forgot #3 and #4 why it won't work: 3) and the anti-whalers won't accept the figures anyway because a Japanese govt. funded organization produced the figures 4) we aren't supposed to be eating meat anyway because we should all be vegetarians (anyone who isn't must be from the "far right") What is with the paranoia ? Why " MUST " they be from the far right ? So all people who eat whale are nationalists are they ? Kind of naive narrow-minded posting.
TokyoHustla at 06:46 AM JST - 27th April

davisattokyo has pwnd this thread. He puts forth real statistics and figures and does not fall into the emotional trap that anti-Japanese (anti-whalers) fall into. We need to keep in mind that those who oppose Japanese whaling are racist - they are trying to deny we Japanese of our traditional sustenance. Why would they do such a thing? I think davidattokyo is correct in asserting that anti-whalers are racists who hate Japan and would like to declare war against the nation again, by blockading its primary food source.

Once again, Japan is a sovereign nation and will do what it wants. Don't like it? Join a military of your choice and try to invade Japan. Good luck, tough guy.
cleo at 08:40 AM JST - 27th April

Give david credit, I don't think he has ever suggested that opposition to Japanese whaling makes a person racist, or that anti-whalers hate Japan. All he 'owns', though, is his pay-check from the icr.

Don't like it? Join a military of your choice and try to invade Japan.

Pathetic.
Potsu at 12:58 PM JST - 27th April
TokyoHustla:"Once again, Japan is a sovereign nation and will do what it wants. Don't like it? Join a military of your choice and try to invade Japan. Good luck, tough guy."
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That is quite possibly the most pathetic post ever.
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kanadamanada at 02:02 PM JST - 27th April

What's the stir? The minke whale is the most numerous of the large whales and is far from endangered. Tasty, too!
fairyprince at 08:36 PM JST - 27th April

Very tasty.

I think I need to research some whale bacon this weekend.

Go ahead and cry more anti-whalers. It is getting you so very far.
TokyoHustla at 11:23 PM JST - 29th April

That is quite possibly the most pathetic post ever.

Potsu, that sounds like a concession; I will read it as such. I take it you're not willing to take the step I suggested to stop whaling. It seems you're not that committed to your cause after all.