Japan wants anti-whalers barred from Australian, NZ and Chile ports

Tuesday 06th January, 12:20 PM JST

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Airion at 01:13 PM JST - 7th January

davidattokyo:

Whether or not more people were eating whale back in the day is irrelevant. What matters is now, and there's hardly any demand. So to argue that the whaling is justified in order to satisfy this traditional demand, as the Japan Whaling Association says on it's website, is silly, as there is no longer such a demand. Supply doesn't create demand.
kwatt at 02:51 PM JST - 7th January

zurcronium - Thanks. I mean whether eating whale meat or not is not matter. In future sooner or later many coutries will decide to hunt (maybe cull) some number out of large population of whale if whale population increased too much, because too large whale population will decrease fishery resources.
notimpressed at 06:19 PM JST - 7th January

David

Have a look at the recognised territories of antarctica too on a map, Japan has no recognised claim, even though they try to claim one. why not recognised?~ because it is ridiculous for them to have territory there.

Why do they have a base? It is allowed for non-whale-related scientific research on another countries territory by that countries permission. They do not have permission to be whaling in the area, but rather there is no solid law yet to ban them from such activities, so they just do it out of spite and beligerance.

You are trumpeting a cause against a landslide of disapproval for what may I ask? Why do you want them to whale in the southern oceans?

As for not considering the antarctic to be our backyard, NZ has a few small islands very close to the continent under our durisdiction, we are very close to the area, and it is indeed our backyard. NZ has a long history of research and exploration in the area. Japan has no history with that area other than the recent one of poaching whales, and their land based research by permission of other countries.

Get a different soapbox and a different battle to fight. I fear you are one of those people in an argument for the sheer joy of being a total... I sincerely doubt you care about these issues in any way unless it is to gain personal financial benefit. Otherwise, why in your right mind do you champion yourself to the cause of Japan killing whales on the other side of the world, in your ( alleged) own countries backyard. Yes it is our back yard, if it isnt yours, then too bad, stay out of the argument then, because you also have no right to hunt whales there, if you could even heft a harpoon that is ;0 Now theres an idea, if Japanese want to hunt whale so bad, make it a sport and put yourself face to face with these huge and majestic animals. Study about how intelligent and altruistic they can be, then look one close in the eye, and take it out yourself.
Zenpun at 06:25 PM JST - 7th January

Whaling is not only for commercial purpose. More understanding about their habits, movement, life expectancy & fertility.

"Name one species that humans have saved from Nature that wasn't/isn't threatened by human action in the first place (over-hunting, pollution, urban development, global warming, etc)"

More than one for that! Whales, Pandas, salt water crocodiles belongs to this category. There are some human intervention for those species. Such as relocation of whales from beaches.

Some species will extinct whether human save them or not. For Whales, water temperature, polluted sea & competition for territory for each whales are major factors. More scientific research required for sustaining this particular marine species.
davidattokyo at 06:37 PM JST - 7th January

zurcronium,

Baleen whales contain very little mercury, especially those that feed in the Antarctic.

Whaling has cross-party support in Japan. It's not just the LDP that back it. And the research isn't "fake". They are quite serious, as are the foreign scientists who are also requesting and obtaining access to ICR data for their own studies.

Airion,

Your logic is inside out. Back in the day there was lots of whale meat. More than 200,000 tonnes at it's peak. Today there is miniscule supply in comparison. 4,000 tons is the "worst" figure that Greenpeace quotes in 2009 (two years ago they were quoting 6,000 tons when supply was higher). And so you complain that no one eats whale. Where are 126 million people supposed to get whale from now that supply is equivalent to a single slice of sashimi per person per year?

there's hardly any demand.

There's hardly any supply. At the high prices whale sells for, if there were no demand, no one would buy it. And if no one were buying it, no shops would be selling it. So it's now up to you to explain why I can buy whale in restaurants, my local supermarket, and even the airport on my way back to Tokyo the other day (and buy it I did).

That said, where is your proof that if supply were twice as much each year that twice as much would not be consumed by whale lovers? I for one would definitely eat whale more if it were more plentiful and cheaper.
davidattokyo at 06:53 PM JST - 7th January

notimpressed,

Antarctic territory claims are frozen under the Antarctic treaty system.

Japan does have permission to conduct it's activities in the Antarctic, see ICRW Article VIII.

but rather there is no solid law yet to ban them from such activities, so they just do it out of spite and beligerance.

There is a international agreement that explicitly states that they can do what they are doing... You can't say it is not "solid" just because you don't like it. That's total disrespect for international agreements.

You are trumpeting a cause against a landslide of disapproval

A bunch of morons being numerous in number is no reason to change one's sound opinion.

Why do you want them to whale in the southern oceans?

To realise the sustainable utilisation of the tasty marine resources that baleen whale stocks represent.

I fear you are one of those people in an argument for the sheer joy of being a total...

Hey go look at the anti-whalers. They are the ones that want people to stop eating whales even though sustainable whaling doesn't negatively effect them materially one little bit. The only reason they do it is because it makes them feel good about themselves in a twisted way. Or because they are animal rights nutcases. I guess you fall into the former category?

I sincerely doubt you care about these issues in any way unless it is to gain personal financial benefit.

Backwards. I pay money for whale meat (and my taxes) and support Japan's programmes. You have obviously never eaten whale, or do not recognise the importance of sustainable utilisation of tasty marine resources.
OssanAmerica at 01:46 AM JST - 8th January

Them whalers and the Japanese government is hated worldwide almost as >much as Israel at thye moment, and i bet Ossan supports both innit!

Nonsense. 99% of the world couldn't care less one way or the other about whales. Israel is irrelevent to the topic.

The protesters have rights to, and they aint terrorists, they are >stoppping barbaric Japanese hunters.

Protesters who do so in a lawful manner have rights. SS are eco-terrorists, a threat to the safety of life at sea and should be prosecuted on a global basis. Even Greenpeace won't have anything to do with these lunatics. Disregard for law and human life, and supporting it, is what's "barbaric"
AlfGarnett at 02:25 AM JST - 8th January

Japan has no jurisdiction over other nations ports, so should shut their gobs. You is getting despised more by the day for your attitude, anyone with somethink up there can see that!
OssanAmerica at 08:20 AM JST - 8th January

alfgarnett/meanringo- A nation does not need jurisdiction to request port actions. And who and how many have you polled to determine who despises me and my attitude?
AlfGarnett at 10:17 AM JST - 8th January

OssanAmerica: I am talking about Japan not you. Blimey do you think everythink i write is directed at you?

Strewth, the Sea Shepherd will be welcome at any ports in those countries, it would be the blooming Japanese who wouldn't be allowed to refuel innit! Nobody likes them whalers, well, except for a very small and i think, strang minority.
cleo at 10:25 AM JST - 8th January

Zenpun -

Whales, Pandas, salt water crocodiles belongs to this category. There are some human intervention for those species. Such as relocation of whales from beaches.

I think you misunderstand the question, or perhaps the meaning of 'extinction'. Dragging a handful of beached whales out to sea might help those individuals, but it does not save a species from extinction when the reasons for the drop in population remain unresolved. And the single sole factor bringing some species of whales to the brink of extinction has been overhunting by Man - which is why there's now a moratorium on commercial whaling. Navy sonar, another threat of human origin, is said to be causing havoc with whales' navigation systems.

david -

Hey go look at the anti-whalers. They are the ones that want people to stop eating whales

It's all about you, isn't it? You and your gastric desires. Personally I don't care what kind of corpse you eat. I just want the cruelty and suffering to stop. Show me that whales are killed humanely and painlessly and you'll find me making a lot less noise about whaling. But you're not going to show me that, because it simply isn't possible.

It isn't about you. It's about the whales.
Zenpun at 11:31 AM JST - 8th January

Cleo

You do not realized that Whales are fighting each other too. Why did whales come closer to the costal area like beaches. One is chasing the comfortable temperature. One is fleeing away from their competitors. One is loneliness without the partner. When Wharles are chasing their mate, they produced whale whisper. They said "please do more reserach for us. We needs some scrafices for science".

Moderator: Readers, please stay on topic. Your comments should focus on what is in the story.
dontpanic at 09:46 PM JST - 8th January

Same old stuff regurgitated by the pro whalers whining because Sea Shepherd doesnt listen to their bleating. Now witness the whalers desperate claims of terrorism fall on the deaf ears of governments not keen to defend the indefensible.
browny1 at 11:10 PM JST - 8th January

So much wailing from the whaling fraternity.

No matter what twist they put on it, whaling under it's current guise will never be acceptable to most.

The wailers cry "not fair" at every opportunity, even to the point of seeking exclusion of a boat to a port of call for imagined terrorist activities. If the assertive protesters were terrorists they'd blown the wailers long ago. Agitation and rotten butter throwing is hardly terrorism and such insinuations are in fact a slight on those in the world who suffer terribly at the hands of real terrorists.

While being decidely annoying, it hardly warrants for the protestors to be crucified.

Simple fact - the whaling circle have few real friends in the international community and most countries esp the southern nations will not be waxing with them.
WilliB at 03:02 PM JST - 10th January

How about barring the whalers instead?