Japan to end 32 years of international agreement to resume whaling
21 dec 2018
Japan, already singled out for its cetacean killings under the guise of "scientific research", plans to break the international moratorium on whaling to be able to relaunch this trade in the country.
After several months of threats, Japan would have decided to leave the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to formally resume commercial whaling. According to Japanese media, their government's arguments: some whales threatened with extinction have recovered. But had Japan only stopped hunting one day?
Each year, the country legally kills between 200 and 1200 whales. Although the meat ends up in supermarkets, this fishing is done under the guise of "scientific research". A derogation authorized by the CBI in 1986, the year of the international ban on whaling, after certain species were announced endangered. Japan therefore remains limited and monitored for the time being in its management of cetacean capture. A problem according to the representatives of Japan on the commission, because according to them, eating whales is part of their culture.
A decision pending
The Japan Fisheries Agency told the BBC that Japan was considering "all possible options" but "had not yet made a decision". There has therefore been no official confirmation regarding Japan's departure from the CBI, but according to NHK, the government has already informed MPs of this decision. Citing anonymous government sources, the Kyodo news agency also said an official announcement could be made next week.
This departure is nevertheless expected since in September 2018, the country suffered a refusal from the other members concerning the resumption of whaling, with 41 votes against 27. Among the nations favorable to commercial whaling, several s 'expected the moratorium to be temporary, pending consensus on "sustainable" catch quotas.
Defenders of the environment on the alert
Environmental activists have warned that by withdrawing from the IWC, Japan risks becoming a "nation of pirate whaling." Darren Kindleysides, Managing Director of the Australian Marine Conservation Society, said: "Leaving the IWC would set a very dangerous precedent for other international treaties and conventions. Not content with harpooning whales, it now appears that Japan is threatening to harpoon the future of the CBI. "
https://www.lci.fr/planete/video-chasse ... 08069.html