Do You Support Commercial Whaling?

What’s the story?

• Japan announced on Wednesday that it will resume commercial whaling in July 2019 and leave the International Whaling Commission.
• The IWC banned commercial whaling more than 30 years ago.
• New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters was among officials to object to the move, calling whaling an “outdated and unnecessary practice.” 

What are both sides saying?

Japan

• IWC has two missions: to protect whales and to promote a sustainable whaling industry. Japan claims the commission is no longer promoting sustainable whaling. Representatives of the country have pointed out that most whale species aren’t endangered and eating whale meat is a central (if limited) part of Japanese culture.

Conservationists

“For decades Japan has aggressively pursued a well-funded whaling campaign to upend the global ban on commercial whaling," said Kitty Block, president of Humane Society International. "It has consistently failed but instead of accepting that most nations no longer want to hunt whales, it has now simply walked out.”

What do you think?

Should countries be allowed to decide for themselves if they want to hunt whales? Do you support Japan’s withdrawal from IWC? Should the U.S. also withdraw? Take action above, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: IWC)