few lovers of flesh - Japan hunting for fin whales again - first animal dead
Japan's Whalers Hunt Finn Whales for First Time in Years
Japan's whaling company, Kyodo Senpaku, has killed its first fin whale this year, a spokesperson for the relevant fisheries agency confirmed to Deutsche Presse-Agentur in Tokyo. The agency recently approved a quota of 59 fin whales for Japanese waters this year. International animal and environmental activists strongly condemn Japan's whaling.
Finn whales are listed as "vulnerable" on the Red List, meaning they face a high risk of extinction in the near future. There are currently around 100,000 of them. Iceland also hunts these animals, with a total of 128 fin whales allowed to be caught this season.
Harsh Criticism
"The commercial whaling is cruel, unnecessary, and completely outdated. Japan must immediately stop this senseless practice and instead work with the global community on urgently needed solutions to protect the oceans," said Andreas Dinkelmeyer, campaign leader of the animal and environmental protection organization IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) in Germany.
The spokesperson for the Japanese fisheries agency said that Japan acts based on scientific results, claiming that its own investigations have shown that there are many fin whales in the North Pacific.
Hunting Only in Own Waters
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after a three-decade pause, following its withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The reason for the withdrawal was Japan's frustration over the 1986 whaling moratorium. Tokyo fought in vain for the resumption of commercial hunting. Since then, Japan has limited its hunting to its territorial waters and its economic zone.
Only a Few Enthusiasts Eat the Meat
So far, Japan has hunted three species: dwarf whales, Bryde's whales, and sei whales. Now, the fin whale, the second-largest living mammal, has become the target of whalers. Japan's government claims that commercial whaling does not endanger the populations of marine mammals. In fact, whaling has long become a question of national sovereignty for Japan's government.
It was once the American occupying forces that pressured the East Asian country after the lost Second World War to slaughter whales to provide protein for the then-starving population. But that is a long time ago - today, the dark whale meat finds only a few enthusiasts in the wealthy island state.
The controversial decision to hunt fin whales by Japan's whaling company has sparked intense criticism from environmental activists, who argue that the effort is inhumane and could further endanger the vulnerable species. The fin whale population, listed as "vulnerable," is facing a high risk of extinction, and international organizations urge Japan to prioritize conservation efforts instead.
