The Truth About Whaling
What is whaling?
Whaling is the practice of hunting and killing whales by humans for multiple purposes and has been going on for over a thousand years. Throughout the centuries, whaling has become increasingly popular, especially in countries such as Iceland, Japan, and Norway.
Even though actions are being taken and bans are being placed, the number of whales in the wild has reached a critically low number due to over whaling. Even after many years of protection, 7 out of 13 whale species are either endangered or vulnerable.
Why did humans hunt whales in the past?
In the early days, whales have been hunted for many products including bones, blubber (oil), the “whalebone” (baleen), and spermaceti, which refers to the oil in the head of sperm whales used to make candles and cosmetics.
Whale oil obtained from sperm whales, right whales, and bowhead whales was especially in high demand. A single large sperm whale could yield as much as three tons of sperm oil. However, the use of whale oil declined in the mid-1800's as kerosene and other petroleum products started replacing it.
Indigenous people also hunted whales because of their meat to fulfil their basic survival needs. For thousands of years, the climate in Greenland was too cold for many people, including the Eskimos and the indigenous people to grow their own vegetables. Whale meat became the main source of food for them, being rich in niacin, iron, and protein.
Why are whales still being hunted today?
Today, modern whaling is conducted primarily for meat in commercial whaling. Whales are also being killed in a misguided effort to reduce competition for fish, and several small cetaceans like smaller whales, dolphins, and porpoise species are hunted for the use as a bait to catch fish.
However, the first claim is arguable. Fish is not the only thing that whales eat. In fact, whales eat a varied diet, including plankton, krill, and also small fishes.
Some species of toothed whale are also hunted in some communities for their teeth, which are used as currency.
Which countries still hunt whales?
Despite the ban placed by International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1986 to stop commercial whaling, some countries still refuse to end their whaling operations.
Japan is one of them. Almost immediately after the whaling ban was implemented, Japan launched its scientific whaling programme, using it as a cover-up for its ongoing commercial whaling operation.
Meat from these whales, which are supposedly killed for “science”, is then sold in food markets or given away free or at low cost to schools and hospitals to encourage the consumption of whale meat.
The Japanese whaling fleet departs twice a year and they have been given a quota of the number of whales they can kill – 200 minke whales, 50 Bryde’s whales, 100 sei whales, and 10 sperm whales, – under the guise of scientific research. However, vessels were killing up to nearly a thousand minke whales and 50 fin whales each year before the International Court of Justice ruled that it was illegal.
Like Japan, Iceland initially conducted a “scientific” whaling programme. Then in 1992, it withdrew from the IWC and later re-joined it again in 2004. Iceland included a clause in its re-entry objecting to the whaling ban.
In 2006, Iceland resumed commercial whaling, targeting minke and fin whales as well. In 2010 alone, Iceland killed 148 endangered fin whales and 60 minke whales.
Norway is another country that still allows whaling. Beginning in 1993, Norway used a loophole in the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling which allowed them to resume hunting whales, especially minke whales.
Norway sets its own quota for the number of whales they are permitted to kill for commercial reasons. This number has been increasing each year, from killing 600 mike whales in 2002 to more than a thousand today.
How do they kill the whales?
The Animal Welfare Institute believes all whaling to be inherently cruel. Even the most advanced whaling methods cannot guarantee an immediate death or ensure that targeted animals will not feel any pain or distress before they die.
Many modern whalers use harpoons fired from the bow of a whaling vessel. Harpoons have been used for at least over a thousand years to capture not only whales but large fishes as well.
Harpoons are usually fitted with penthrite grenades that will penetrate about 12 inches or one foot into the body before they explode, releasing claw-like protrusions into the flesh. The initial blast is supposed to cause enough brain damage to kill or knock the whale out for a few seconds. However, depending on where the harpoon hits the whale’s body, the whale may suffer from trauma or blood loss but not die.
Usually, when the whale survives the grenade harpoon, a high-powered rifle is used as a secondary killing method. After harpooning, the animal is hauled onto the ship using a line attached to the harpoon, with the grenade’s claws biting into the flesh of the animal. Sometimes, however, the harpoon line might break due to heavy seas or other causes and the struck whale is lost to the ocean as it bleeds to death.
For animals who have not been stunned or killed by then, we can only imagine the excruciating pain and distress they have to feel. Whaling is a cruel and unnecessary activity that must be stopped. Commercial whaling is banned, trade in whale products is forbidden and demand for whale meat is falling. Yet, every year Japan, Norway and Iceland still kill about 1,500 whales.
There is no humane way to kill a whale and they are forced to die a slow and painful death. Stop this pointless slaughter of one of the earth’s most majestic creatures.
I could imagine the amount of force or might to kill a whale would be large but detonating a grenade-like device a foot into its body is still shocking. I hadn’t an idea about the process for killing a whale. It’s definitely sad to hear how some countries use subterfuge (e.g., research) to hunt these majestic creatures. And hearing how some skirt the rules altogether in the name of whaling. All very concerning stuff.
ReplyDeleteBut most shocking: Who knew global warming would ultimately be the savior of whales? Burning kerosene and eventually coal saved whales from being hunted.
I’m a strong believer of leaving nature alone, is they need us they will come to us. Whales are such beautiful animals that shouldn’t be messed with. I feel that many of us think that we are superior but again Mother Nature we are nothing!
ReplyDeleteThis made me sad. Killing whales just for the sake of sports. There are so many sports why do we need another one that involved killing something with life?
ReplyDeleteThank you for turning the spotlight on this.
ReplyDeleteWell, you learn something new every day when you read blogs! I knew whales were killed for meat, oil, etc but I did not knew the gruesome way they are killed- using a grenade like device. Hopefully, enough people will become educated to bring this practice to an end. It all starts with informative articles like this!
ReplyDeletethey kill whales for science??? :/
ReplyDeleteJoy at http://www.thejoyousliving.com
Its really a sad news for humans . We should protect whales . Thanks for the post
ReplyDeleteHumans are the worst. I don't understand what joy they get from hurting these creatures
ReplyDeleteShocking. Nature should be nurtured.
ReplyDeleteThis is really bad. Nature should be taken care of.
ReplyDeleteInformative post. Whales are such beautiful creatures. Harming them is beyond comprehension to me.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bigger hunting fanatic and I also like to fish, but this is something I could never understand. Just has never made sense to. Thanks for all this information
ReplyDeleteI recently saw something on Japan and their whaling efforts and they have no plausible reasons for still doing it. The people don't eat it as much and their scientific research doesn't say much at all. It's just sad all around.
ReplyDeleteThey are such beautiful creatures and we need to do our best to protect them. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteWith environmental challenges I can understand the need for population controls for their health and longevity as well as the eco health of the oceans. The needless slaughter of such majestic creatures is sad.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me so sad and angry at the same time. Just unneccesary to kill these beautiful creatures!
ReplyDeleteWhaling is definitely something you don't hear much about - but it's a problem for sure :(
ReplyDeleteThis is a very informative and eye-opening post. I did not know that whaling was still so prevalent and though I knew it was cruel, I did not know the extent of it. Moby Dick was written over 100 years ago in a time when whaling actually still had some practical benefits, yet Melville must have been aware of the cruelty as well because his book captures how violent and inhumane the practice is and also the ultimate folly in trying to conquer nature.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds awful and never knew there was a thing like this! Thanks for throwing light on it.
ReplyDeleteI hate that people do this. Just leave the animals alone...
ReplyDeleteWow! what an eye opener post.l never knew the killing of whales still happen .we need to spread the news and protect them from this wicked act.Thanks so much for this wonderful and informative post.Glad l saw your blog.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about whaling before. But the practice is far more serious than I expected. This is worth sharing!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting read - thanks for sharing. I didn't realise whales are currently hunted as much as they are!
ReplyDeleteI've unfortunately seen some whaling videos. very sad
ReplyDeleteThis makes me so sad, that we are still hunting whales is horrific. We should be spreading more awareness and start protecting these beautiful animals.
ReplyDeleteAw this makes my heart hurt. I hope this world changes. x
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that about hunting whales in the past. I guess you learn something new.
ReplyDeleteWhales are really amazing. They are beautiful creatures and it breaks my hart knowing about whale hunting.
ReplyDeleteIts really a sad news for humans . We should protect whales. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteWe should do more to protect the whales because they are such beautiful creatures. Thank you for sharing all about whaling.
ReplyDeleteThis is shocking. Didn’t know how whales were killed. Whales are so beautiful. My girls loved sea world when they were younger.
ReplyDeleteWow what an interesting article about whaling,there should be more protection for them, they are beautiful creatures.
ReplyDeleteSo sad. Also commercial whale watching tours that don't take the wellbeing of the whale into account, and places like Seaworld keeping these beautiful animals in captivity. They are not 'ours' to do with as we choose
ReplyDeleteA great effort to raise voice for whales which are exploited by humans for our selfish purposes.
ReplyDeleteThis was so sad to read! I find whales so fascinating and I wish their was more protection for them.
ReplyDelete