Australia appoints special envoy for whale conservation

Tuesday 21st October, 05:31 AM JST

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R_M_s at 10:09 PM JST - 21st October

tclh> An autopsy of that whale calf revealed it was very ill with multiple bacterial infections. The whale was going to die no matter what.

The numbers of most (if not all?) of the whale species that Japan hunts are increasing. I'll track down the info to back that up when I get the chance. If numbers are going up, who really cares?
imacat at 11:10 PM JST - 21st October

Japan's Whaling "research" is a sham. Everyone knows that and the ridiculous "research papers" it produces which only ever back up the Japanese government's position are merely produced to exploit the loophole. This suits the Japanese government very well, as it knows that commercial whaling will never resume in the Antarctic.

But why does it carry out these extremely outdated and indeed provocative Victorian-era style expeditions to the Antarctic?

According to Japan's own data there are plentiful whales in the seas around Japan. More than enough to satisfy what is and, let's be realistic, always will be a tiny niche market. Think about it! This is according to Japan's own data... large numbers of juicy whales swimming in the seas surrounding Japan.

So why travel 1000s and 1000s of kms to the furthest reaches of the globe, why burn tonnes of fuel and emit huge amounts of greenhouse gases (this huge fleet even has a refueling ship!), why ignore objections from friendly countries who consider the area their backyard, why put a pristine environment at risk (remember the scary fire on the Nishin Maru that left one poor soul dead and this huge factory ship dead in the water), why make yourself look extremely arrogant and selfish as you swagger round the globe grabbing resources from a unique wilderness area, why impose your culture and values on an area with no connection to your own country... why do all these things when according to your own data there are plentiful whales on your doorstep???

These are the questions that people are asking themselves as they prepare to watch Japan's huge whale killing fleet set sail for another ludicrous expedition to an area so far from Japan that in the past few years this huge fleet has sailed a distance equivalent to the moon and back!

Why do all this to gain a few tonnes of whale meat for a tiny niche market? Is it arrogant right-wing pride and stubbornness from middle-aged men in MAFF?

It is always Japan that brings up culture and tradition as the main reason to explain it's continued whaling. Well, I'm afraid that culture does not stretch to include the Antarctic. If Japan wants to keep its whaling traditions alive then it would do well to take the whales from its own backyard. There are plenty of whales there.

Even davidattokyo (presumably he's debiddo... no idea why he changed his name) has already admitted that the way forward is for Japan to agree to give up its Victorian-era style expeditions to the Antarctic.

The sooner the better.
Molenir at 12:43 AM JST - 22nd October

Personally, I don't really care about whaling one way or another. But I think its pathetic the way people are so anti-whaling. I mean they're basically sea cows. As long as they're not in danger of extinction, then why the hell not allow hunting. Ooh, so called intelligence, which of course conveniently can't be measured. Yeah, sorry, not good enough. Let em kill and eat whales, as long as the species aren't in danger... Though, I'll stick to eating steak myself.
Helly at 01:08 AM JST - 22nd October

Scientific research means you publish your findings. show me one paper....
Good_Jorb at 01:55 AM JST - 22nd October

And "Japan and other countries" will care what Australia has to say because?
ca1ic0cat at 02:00 AM JST - 22nd October

"Scientific research means you publish your findings"

Not really. If your sponsor doesn't like the result the paper gets swept under the carpet.
imacat at 12:55 AM JST - 23rd October

a civilization with over 100 million ppl and several thousand years

Could you explain how your culture and "civilization" stretch to include the Antarctic? Why are you imposing your values and culture on the Antarctic? Japan always gives as the main reason for it's continued whaling the need to preserve its oh-so-precious culture and tradition. What people want to know is how that culture can possibly include a region on the other side of the globe.

The arrogance of the English speaking world never seems to stop amaize me.

You don't realize how arrogant and selfish Japan looks on the world stage, do you? Here is Japan arrogantly grabbing whales to preserve its local traditional food culture not in the seas around Japan, but in a pristine wilderness area 1000s and 1000s of kms away, imposing its culture and values on an area at the furthest reaches of the globe, completely ignoring the objections of countries who rightly consider this area part of their backyard.

And these are countries Japan considers as friends! Nice way to treat your friends Japan... a few tonnes of whale meat for a tiny niche market are obviously much more important than keeping friendly relations with countries which otherwise are very well-disposed towards Japan.

come to preach to...

haha the blind arrogance of this remark made laugh. Can't you see? It's Japan that is coming to the Antarctic... not to just preach but sending a huge, provocative Victoria-era style fleet 1000s and 1000s of kms to an area on the other side of the globe. Next time you hold a globe in your hands, hold it upside down and look at the Antarctic. Which countries can you see nearest to the Antarctic? Oz and NZ... of course they consider this area their backyard.

How about if Ozzie fishermen sailed up to the seas around Okinotorishima to grab sea creatures for their "barbecue culture"? How would Japan react to that do you think?
Good_Jorb at 06:37 AM JST - 23rd October

Oz and NZ... of course they consider this area their backyard.

Except it's not, it's international waters and it does not matter what OZ or NZ think it is.
imacat at 09:33 AM JST - 23rd October

Except it's not, it's international waters and it does not matter what OZ or NZ think it is.

I think you might want to do a bit more research on the subject.

Australia has a claimed EEZ off the AAT. It's a controversial claim no doubt, but a claim nevertheless.

Japan knows all about controversial claims. It's claim to a massive 400,000sqkm EEZ around a tiny speck of coral called Okinotorishima is very controversial.

That's my point... how would Japan feel if Ozzie fishermen sailed up to the seas around Okinotorishima to grab sea creatures for their "barbecue culture". I think we all know that Japan would send ships and airplanes to kick them out. Look at how Japan's coast guard sunk a tiny Taiwanese fishing boat in disputed waters earlier this year.

Japan would do well to try to look at issues from all sides, not just from the right-wing nationalist point of view of middle-aged men in MAFF, the ICR, the government, etc.

But the big mystery is... why does Japan go all the way to the Antarctic?! According to the Japanese government's own data there are plenty of whales in the seas around and adjacent to Japan. More than enough to satisfy a tiny niche market for whale meat in Japan. Does anybody have any idea why Japan feels the need to grab additional whales from the Antarctic? Is it just pure greed, or does Japan not like the taste of whales from the seas close by.
Good_Jorb at 11:16 PM JST - 23rd October

Australia has a claimed EEZ off the AAT. It's a controversial claim no doubt, but a claim nevertheless.

The EEZ Australia claims are only recognized by 4 or 5 other countries, it does not even stand up legally in Australia's own court, that is why Japan's whalers have yet to have any legal action taking against them in Australia. Perhaps it is remnants of Australia's imperialist past but you just can't claim land and make it yours. As for Okinotorishima, there are overlapping EEZ zones not international waters and if Ozzie fishermen want to fish perhaps they could fish besides the Chinese natural gas oil-platform(no intervention from Japan) that was built in that area.
imacat at 01:19 PM JST - 24th October

As for Okinotorishima, there are overlapping EEZ zones not international waters and if Ozzie fishermen want to fish perhaps they could fish besides the Chinese natural gas oil-platform(no intervention from Japan) that was built in that area.

You've got it completely wrong. You are talking about the dispute in the East China Sea. Okinotorishima is in the Pacific.

If you can't get even the basic facts right then you end up posting a load of nonsense.

Look, I'll help you. Here are 2 links to maps, one for the East China Sea and one for Okinotorishima:

http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-news/east-china-sea-dispute.jpg

http://www.sof.or.jp/jp/news/151-200/images/174_1.jpg
nigelboy at 01:36 PM JST - 24th October

Australia is currently violating the Antarctic treaty while Japan is exercizing her right on her EEZ based on UNCLOS.

Can you stop with the lame comparison, imacat?
MikeBarrymore at 01:39 PM JST - 24th October

nigelboy- Are you Japanese , or unnaturally in love with Japan?

Stop those japanese racals at all costs. Whaling is awful, i saw it on telly, iwas in tears!!!

Jeremy Paxman says Japan does not have atradition of travelling along way to kill whales, and they are liars about the scientific programme.

Stop this slaughter Japan, and earn some rspect, do you hear me loves???
imacat at 04:40 PM JST - 24th October

Australia is currently violating the Antarctic treaty while Japan is exercizing her right on her EEZ based on UNCLOS.

Can you stop with the lame comparison, imacat?

Unfortunately you have misunderstood the Antarctic Treaty. How "lame" of you...

Australia is not currently violating that treaty... it's Antarctic claim was made before the treaty was signed. Article 4 in the treaty merely means that the treaty does not recognise the claim. On the other hand, neither does it dispute the claim. Also, no claims are established by means of this treaty and no new claims can be made while the treaty is in force. It in effect puts all the Antartic claims to one side and gets on with the business of establishing a framework for peaceful international activity in the area.

I know the language found in treaties is difficult to understand and certainly you have misunderstood it, but if you read it slowly a few times I'm sure it will start to become a little clearer for you.

Well, whatever. It's all there on Wikipedia and that's my level of research but it's beside the point. My point is that the Ozzie claim to an EEZ off the AAT is controversial, just as Japan's claim to an area around Okinotorishima is controversial.

As we saw with the tiny Taiwanese fishing vessel earlier this year, the Japanese will sink ships in disputed areas.

Really, how do you think the Japanese would react if the shoe were on the other foot and Ozzie fishermen steamed up to grab marine creatures for their "barbecue culture"?

Japan really needs to look more at this issue from an international standpoint.
nigelboy at 02:24 PM JST - 26th October

Australia is not currently violating that treaty... it's Antarctic claim was made before the treaty was signed. Article 4 in the treaty merely means that the treaty does not recognise the claim. On the other hand, neither does it dispute the claim. Also, no claims are established by means of this treaty and no new claims can be made while the treaty is in force. It in effect puts all the Antartic claims to one side and gets on with the business of establishing a framework for peaceful international activity in the area.

Does't that nullify their initial Antarctic Claim? That would be the logical conclusion.

Really, how do you think the Japanese would react if the shoe were on the other foot and Ozzie fishermen steamed up to grab marine creatures for their "barbecue culture"?

I don't consider it to be "other foot" since it's quite obvious that Japan is exercizing their own EEZ PURSUANT of UNCLOS and that these "Ozzie fishermen" have absolutely NO CASE and won't even consider such a stupid act.

That's like asking how would the North Koreans feel if Ozzie pilot if they flew over North Korea.