Japan, which had hunted whales for centuries had been long arguing to be allowed to hunt whales as their meat has cultural significance. Now that it has been confirmed, their mother boat Nisshin-maru and two support boats will reportedly start catching minke, Bryde’s and sei whales.
In rather disappointing news, Japan has resumed commercial whale hunt after a three-decade-long ban and amidst international opposition.
According to reports, the whaling community has already commenced hunting operations and have already brought one whale to shore.
The country will no longer go to the Antarctic for its much-criticized annual killings but will travel within its 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Japan’s Chief Secretary added that they will resume this process today and mentioned,
It is in line with Japan’s basic policy of promoting sustainable use of aquatic living resources based on scientific evidence. Regrettably, we have reached a decision that it is impossible in the IWC to seek the coexistence of states with different views.
This decision was opposed by the environment group Greenpeace stating that ocean life is already under threat due to pollution. The Executive Director of Greenpeace Japan added,
The declaration today is out of step with the international community, let alone the protection needed to safeguard the future of our oceans and these majestic creatures. The government of Japan must urgently act to conserve marine ecosystems, rather than resume commercial whaling.
People of Twitter are outraged and disappointed over this barbaric act.
They say whales have high intelligence. They also suffer pain. Loss of a family member. So, would the Japanese government allow killing and eating of its own people? No. What’s the difference then? Can the Japanese government give a valid answer? No. Whale murder? Yes.
— MarkWor (@Markwor08193580) June 29, 2019
Maybe they’ll feature what they do to whales when visitors arrive in Japan for the major sports events they’ve secured apparently part of a strategy to show us a modern forward and outward thinking Japan?!
— Phil Hindley (@blademanphil) June 29, 2019
I cannot begin to tell you how much this angers and upsets me. These gentle giants suffer an horrendous death, just to end up on a japanese dinner plate. They say that if whales could scream, the whalers wouldn’t be able to stand the noise. It tears my heart out 💔
— MIP34👾🌻🐕🦉👾 (@MaggieP31069) June 29, 2019
Dear Japan – you seem stuck in a rather silly and frankly barbaric age. It is now the 21st century please do not lie there is no earthly or moral reason for this senseless shameless slaughter. #stopkillingwhales #barbaricbloodycruelty
— Badger Sporran (@BadgerSporran) June 29, 2019
What is wrong with these fckn people ALL life is sacred WHY is the human race so hell bent on destroying everything that’s beautiful in this world 😠 These awesome creatures have just as much right to live as we do FFS we might as well kill our own babies ohh that’s right we do😠
— jenny pagan (@jlpjaptcp) June 29, 2019
Maybe If people decide to boycott travelling to Japan for holidays or boycotting any Japanese goods? Might make them rethink their EVIL, TWISTED decision!
— Herbert Sherbet (@HerbertSherbet5) June 29, 2019
Japan had switched to ‘research whaling’ after the IWC had imposed a ban on commercial whaling in the 1980s, but the country had suggested that the ‘whale stocks’ had recovered enough to continue with commercial whaling in December 2018.
