Whaling In Antarctica

This post concerns the effects that whaling by countries such as Japan are having in Antarctica. A recent BBC article has reported that as of November 2015 Japan has resumed whaling in Antarctica after an interval of over a year. Although Japan has stated that the whaling is purely scientific, most of the whales caught are used in the food industry, not for research purposes. The decision to recommence whaling comes after the ICJ (International Court of Justice) ruled that Japan should discontinue all whaling. Despite Japan reducing its minke whaling quota by 2/3 to 333, any whales killed is seen as an ecological disaster. Butman's 1995 journal article explains that without organic matter from whales, deep sea species that rely on falling whale carcasses will have no other viable food source which will put a strain on the whole ecosystem and marine biodiversity.

The ICJ ruling has criticised Japan for killing whales scientifically and has stated that there is no need to kill whales in order to scientifically study them. The International Whaling Commission (IWC), which purpose is to promote conservation in whaling, strongly argues against whaling taking place in Antarctica. The organisation encourages sustainability and has assisted in helping whale numbers to rise globally due to the protection of species such as the blue whale. However, despite the IWC suspending all commercial whaling in 1986, it still continues today as previously mentioned by countries such as Japan.

Figure 1: A whale being hunted (source)

Personally, I feel that all whaling should be halted in order to preserve these magnificent creatures and maintain the health of the ecosystems that whales are a part of.