why are the japanese killing 950 whales this year for resesarch?

Question

why do they need 900 and something whales of one variety and only ten of another for research? why does the rest of the world sit back and allow them to do this horrific thing each year its disgusting.

Answer 1

The Facts About Whales and Fish Stocks

Scientific research is providing increasing evidence that marine mammals consume huge quantities of marine resources and that this consumption is often in direct competition with fisheries. The matter of competition between marine mammals and fisheries is now of serious concern for nations dependant of fisheries as well as for a number of global and regional fisheries management organizations including the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

The pamphlet produced by the U.S. Department of Commerce ignores recently published scientific findings and over-simplifies ecosystem considerations. Their simplistic and scientifically inaccurate arguments are presented as "facts" to justify inappropriate measures such as moratoria and sanctuaries that provide total protection of marine mammals for emotional or political reasons.

Rather, fisheries management regimes must be based on science and on the principle of sustainable use as reflected in the UNCLOS, UNCED, the Kyoto Declaration and, FAO’s International Action Plans and Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

Recent calculations show that approximately three to five hundred million tons of marine food resources are consumed annually by cetaceans, some 3 to 5 times more than are fished for human consumption. While in 1998 the FAO called for a 30% reduction in the number of fishing vessels or fishing effort as part of urgently required improved fisheries management measures, the demands of an increasing human population require that we consider integrated ecosystem management for the use of all marine living resources.

This means that we must study the role of whales in the ecosystem including their impact on fisheries resulting from the consumption of huge volumes of fish and other marine resources. It also means that the sustainable use of resources at all levels of the ecosystem (including whales) is a more appropriate approach to the management of marine resources than the total protection of one component of the ecosystem (whales) irrespective of their conservation status.

Answer 2

I agree with you and it is not a subject to be flippant about. They have a very poor track record and this "research" sounds extremely dubious as a justification.Sadly they take very little notice of international directives and there does not seem to be any deterrent other nations can use to prevent them from carrying on with this needless slaughter.

Answer 3

oh god,how horrible!!!why don't the animal activists do sth??greenpeace???wwf??peta??oh,poor whales!!!

please people save the whales!!!

Answer 4

They are looking for mobydick