Bargaining with the lives of whales

In past months, the US has led closed-door discussions between six nations seeking a compromise solution to Japanese whaling. Right in the thick of it is Australia - leading the pro-whale countries. The next few months are critical for these discussions and for the whales.

Can these negotiations save the whales?

Official public forums such as the International Whaling Commission (IWC) traditionally have been the place for negotiations. Unfortunately, forums like the IWC are beleaguered by stalemates brought on by politicking and vote-buying.

So, while the preference is for public discussion, these latest negotiations are welcomed as a promising alternative.

There is, of course, a danger involved in negotiating with Japan, which so stubbornly refuses to end its fraudulent ‘scientific’ whaling program. Any outcome that legitimises Japan’s whaling in any guise must be avoided.

What is proposed?

The good news is that two options stemming from these latest closed-door discussions are now public. And they reveal that, more than ever, Australia needs to take a strong stand for whales. There is still a lot of important detail to be fleshed out.

The options currently on the table are:
1. Japan agrees to phase out whaling in the Southern Ocean in exchange for rights to whale mike whales off its coast in the North Pacific.
2. Japan’s whaling program in the Southern Ocean would continue if it complies with annual limits set by the IWC.

Neither of these options is what conservation groups, including Greenpeace, have been fighting for.

Option 1 involves trading whales in the Southern Ocean for whales in the North Pacific and around Japan’s coastline. Option 2 is hardly an option at all as would legitimise and lock-in whaling in the Southern Ocean for years to come. Greenpeace is lobbying all the governments involved. Our bottom line is that Japan’s fraudulent scientific whaling program in the Southern Ocean must end and there can be no resumption of commercial whaling.

Bad faith from Japan

The most disappointing response to the discussions has come from Japan. Japanese Fisheries Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters that Japan would not be able to accept an end to its “scientific” whaling in the Southern Ocean.

This is an impossible way to talk during discussions where parties should be showing good faith. It is difficult to see how any progress can be made if Japan does not consider ending whaling in the southern ocean as a first measure.

Our campaign in Japan

While these discussions continue, Greenpeace will continue to lobby all relevant governments to see that the Japanese whaling program ends.

In Japan, we continue to focus our efforts on winning the hearts and minds of the public – who are largely unaware that their government sponsors the killing of whales in the Southern Ocean.

While some Japanese would prefer to see whaling occur off their own coastline rather than in the pristine waters of Antarctic, there is a strong argument that Japanese coastal whaling would not be sustainable – environmentally or economically.

Some populations of Japanese minke whale are endangered. Moreover, a recent report on coastal whaling in Japan has said that it is ‘on the verge of crisis’. ‘ The number of boats actually operating now in the entire country is only five, and there are just 31 crewmembers. The average takings for one boat is 64,600,000 yen but the average expenses exceed 95,000,000 yen and the more they operate, the more they go into the red (fiscal year 2007).’(1)

It is inexplicable why Japan, now in recession, would be prepared to squander taxpayers subsidies on this venture any longer.

(1) Article in Wedge Magazine (published February 2009, Japan).