A commercial whale ship has recently returned to a north-east port with Japan with at least 25 common whales captured in the sea of Okhotsk, off the northern coast of the island of Hokkaido.
All specimens that were then transported to the port of Sendai, in the prefecture of Miyagi. A real commercial hunt for the common whale hunting, therefore, and it would be the first time that Japan leads it to their exclusive economic zone north of Hokkaido Since in 2019 he officially left the International Commission for Balena Hunt (IWC).
Over the last few days, approximately 320 tons of whale meat they were downloaded to the port. Of these, 1.6 tons will be distributed as raw meat In six different national markets, including Tokyo and Osaka.
It is worth remembering that Japan had suspended the commercial hunt for whales in 1988, as a member of the IWC, but continued to conduct jokes for alleged “scientific purposes”, arousing hard criticism by the international community.
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The return of this ship marks a significant passage in the country whale policy: not only is the First commercial hunt for the Municipality’s whale After retirement from the IWC, but also arrives following theUpdate of the Japanese fishing plan of 2024which officially included the species between the huntable ones.
For this year, the Japanese fishing agency has set a 60 Common whale number Which can be killed, a worrying sign of Japan’s renewed commitment in a practice that, for decades, continued under the controversial label of “scientific research”.
A brutal practice that inflicts unspeakable suffering
The whales play an essential role in the balance of the oceans, favoring the recycling of marine nutrients and contributing to the absorption of carbon, a key factor in the battle against global warming. The resumption of hunting seriously threatens the biological diversity of the seas and risks further compromising ecological systems already in difficulty. The disappearance of these great cetaceans could have dramatic effects not only on ocean ecosystems, but also on entire humanity.
To this is added the ethical aspect: the commercial hunt for whales is one of the most cruel practices still in place. The harpoons used do not guarantee quick death and animals often agonize for long minutes. Although Japan continues to justify the hunting, supporting its cultural and food value, the consumption of whale meat is continuously decreasing, stopping today between 1,000 and 2,000 tons per year – a negligible amount compared to the levels reached in the sixties.
Environmental organizations such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) are strengthening their campaigns to end this practice. The whale hunt not only contrasts with the international commitments of Japan regarding conservation, but also represents a concrete threat to the future survival of species such as the common whale.
