Creatures in the Wild: An Insight into their Lives - The Makah tribe is granted permission to resume gray whale hunting.
The Native Americans of the Makah Tribe in the northwest region of the United States are granted permission to resume their traditional practice of whale hunting after a lengthy 100-year break. The authority overseeing this, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has issued this permit for the tribe living in the Pacific Coast settlement of Neah Bay.
This allows them to hunt up to 25 gray whales during a period of ten years, with the purpose being for ceremonial occasions and self-sustenance. If they choose to go through with this, they will be able to take no more than two or three whales per year. The currently estimated gray whale population in the area is approximately 17,000 - 21,000, as per the most recent studies.
For many generations, the Makahs used to rely on whale hunting for their survival. A deal between the Makahs and the US government, resulting in the Treaty of 1855, granted them the right to hunt whales. However, the surplus of non-tribal whalers around the turn of the twentieth century drove the gray whale population down so significantly that it came close to extinction, thus necessitating their strict protection.
In 1999, with a special license from the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the tribe embarked on a grey whale hunt. They launched this hunt from a cedar canoe, using harpoons to strike at the animal, and finishing it off with a rifle shot. This prompted harsh reproaches from animal welfare campaigners, who took legal action to end the hunt.
Despite the setbacks, the Makahs have continuously sought a license to resume hunting. Their continued efforts have led to this recent decision by the Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, giving them an exemption under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to safeguard marine mammals.
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The decision to allow the Makah tribe's whale hunting revival was made by the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This hunt will primarily take place in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Seattle, home to a significant population of gray whales.
The Makah tribe's hunting practices have been shaped by generations of reliance on the ocean's resources, including whales. With their new permit, they can hunting up to 25 gray whales over a decade, adhering to strict annual limits.
The NOAA's decision draws on the 1855 Treaty, which granted the Makahs the right to hunt whales, in alignment with their cultural customs and self-sustenance needs. Conversely, overexploitation by non-tribal whalers around the turn of the twentieth century nearly drove the gray whale population to extinction.
Animal welfare advocates opposed the 1999 gray whale hunt conducted by the Makah tribe, even prompting legal action to halt the activity. However, the tribe's sustained advocacy for their right to hunt has ultimately led to this recent NOAA authorization, highlighting the delicate balance between cultural practices and wildlife protection.
The gray whale population in the region, now estimated to be between 17,000 and 21,000, has recovered significantly, making it possible for the Makah tribe to resume their traditional hunting practices with the proper authorization and regulations.
