Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Whaling talks stuck on compromise deal

National Jun. 23, 2009 - 04:09AM JST ( 6 )

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

Order by Time Order by Popularity

6 Comments

0

smithinjapanJun. 23, 2009 - 09:47PM JST

What's the point? Japan's whaling is 'scientific research that's been carried out in the Antarctic as a tradition dating back to god knows when', if you take the paradoxical reasoning of the Japanese into account. Any deal struck with the Japanese about whaling will just mean a free license for them to overfish beyond it. Ever hear of the bluefin tuna and quotas? Well, they sell those things in Tsukiji market for $10,000 (US) per tuna, so it's no wonder they overfish. With the whales, sure they will just rot in coolers since the old codgers can't force whale burgers on the kids like they'd wish, but they can still rake in a bundle for 'science'. If they get any kind of green light, you can bet they'll go well beyond any limit they promise.

In other words, don't bother. Just keep embarrassing them in the world media on the issue, bring it up when it comes to honouring the UN and getting a seat, and watch them set up their kangaroo courts in return.
0

davidattokyoJun. 23, 2009 - 11:09PM JST

Japan's whaling is 'scientific research that's been carried out in the Antarctic as a tradition dating back to god knows when',

That's not Japan's position.

Japan has never said that it's scientific research in the Antarctic is a "tradition". It's only with modern technology in the last 100 or so years that whaling in the Antarctic has even become possible.

Any deal struck with the Japanese about whaling will just mean a free license for them to overfish beyond it.

And just how are they going to catch the whales without the regulators noticing.

With the whales, sure they will just rot in coolers since

Food in Japanese refridgeration facilities doesn't normally rot, and people running these facilities aren't going to pay millions of yen to stock whale products if they think they won't be able to sell them.

If they get any kind of green light, you can bet they'll go well beyond any limit they promise.

They already have the right to catch as many as they like, it's in the rules for scientific permits. Yet you think if the IWC grants them quotas they'll go and catch more than the quota in that case anyway? Why?
0

dontpanicJun. 23, 2009 - 11:30PM JST

"And just how are they going to catch the whales without the regulators noticing"

Dont be naive. It goes on all the time and its not difficult. Its hard to keep an eye on the whalers, as youre aware Sea Shepherd were actively looking for them but couldnt keep an eye on the fleet all the time. The seas are impossible to police.

Dolphin has been passed off on the Japanese market as whale meat in the past. The only way to know is by exhaustively taking samples and testing. In those circumstances how hard do you think it is to cover up an overfish?

"Why?"

Because there's money in it.
0

OssanAmericaJun. 24, 2009 - 04:15AM JST

It's the Whaling that's the tradition, not being in the antarctic. Furthermore, Japanese whaling is done for consumption just like the aboriginal people of the US and Canada, not like the way the US and Europe conducted whaling earlier, stripping off the blubber and throwing away the rest of the carcass. The biggest BF Tuna fishing countries are the US, Canada and Japan. Japan has been and continues to be an active participant in conservation measures as well as a leader with Australia in BF Tuna farming. As for prices set at Tsukiji, expect to see more Chinese buyers in the future. They love the stuff.
0

smithinjapanJun. 24, 2009 - 01:03PM JST

Ossan: "Acting to satisfy growing demand from Japan and top restaurants around the world, fishermen caught 56,000 tons of critically endangered bluefin tuna, 26,000 tons more than the quota set by the international body charged with regulating tuna catches in the Mediterranean and North East Atlantic."

Hmmm... it does indeed seem like Europe is leading in overfishing of bluefin tuna (though Japan DOES go over the quota); Japan just provides the demands in order for those countries to do the overfishing in the first place.

davidattokyo: "That's not Japan's position."

It IS Japan's position, when they are attacked for whaling and it's proven it's not for scientific means first and foremost. Just look at the "Japan's whaling town gets seasons first catch" thread and read about the Japanese on there complaining about how the IWC is infringing on their long-time traditions. As to how long and in the Atlantic, I was being sarcastic to point out the obvious flaws in their rationale for continuing to whale.

Moderator: Readers, please stay on topic. Bluefin tuna are not relevant to this discussion.