Demand, revenue, cost, and profit are the driving forces behind any economy. This notion is taught to most students in grade school and will carry on through the rest of their lives helping them make the most educated decisions they can. Logically, the greater the demand for something, the greater the profit will be. Whaling used to be a sizable part of the economy, due to the innumerable uses of a whale’s by-products, and consequently, there was a substantial profit margin. Presently, the largest demand for whaling is by Japan, Norway, and Iceland all of whom partake in whaling for either commercial or “research” purposes. However, the demand and revenue from whaling do not outweigh the costs that have tolled on the species. This practice is largely scrutinized by conservationists who believe that commercial whaling is going to bring some species of whales to extinction. The current demand for whaling is incredibly low; however, it is still necessary to continue the ban on commercial whaling.
There are very few countries currently participating in whaling. The countries that are still involved in large scale whaling are Iceland, Norway, and Japan; however, Iceland and Japan claim that their whaling is specifically for research purposes. There is a low level of official international participation, but most of the whaling that is taking place is illegal. Even though whaling appears to be a relatively long lasting tradition, commercial whaling has only been a major industry since the 1800’s. Because this is a comparatively recent market, it should not be very hard to steer people away from it and towards a more profitable area.
The incredibly minute degree of consumption and use of whale is greatly inferior to the amoun...
... middle of paper ...
...ism (Cunningham). It is one thing not to want to be told what to do, but it is also important for them to consider the impact of their actions. The Japanese are blatantly defying the regulations set in place by the IWC because they feel entitled to a cultural tradition.
Deciding whether or not to continue the ban on commercial whaling is not a personal decision, but more so a moral obligation to the environment. It is necessary to take into account the effects that whaling has had on the economy and environment and there have been no positive factors since it has become an unnecessary part of daily lives. Overall, it is up to each member country of the IWC on what regulations they want to adhere to but there is an obvious decision that they should make. If they chose to continue killing whales, then there needs to be an alternative way of enforcing the IWC’s policy.
The most effective piece of this documentary, however, was neither the structure of the film nor the specific questions that one is forced to answer regarding the ethical treatment of these killer whales, but the overall questions of whether or not these corporations should be allowed to continue their cycle of abuse toward the animals and whether or not we, as patrons, should encourage their behavior by giving them a monetary profit every day, every month, and every year. Ignorance is forgivable, but with the knowledge given in this documentary: the final two questions raised should be able to answer themselves.
Australian beaches are some of the best in the world and WA beaches are some of the best in Australia. But this may soon no longer be a view held by everyone if the WA government continues to support and allow the shark culling off Perth's major beaches. Hi I'm Maya Koentgen, a marine biologist, ecologist and fellow beach user, and I'm here to tell you why shark culling needs to stop. At the moment hundreds of innocent sharks are being caught and killed and why? Because they are simply swimming in their own homes that us humans have invaded.
When an intelligent animal accustomed to swimming in thousands of miles of open ocean is placed in an environment only twice its size, is separated from its species, and is forced to perform tricks, there are bound to be consequences. The captivity of these animals should be banned and National Reserves and whale tours should be used to educate the public while admiring these animals' true beauty. There are few experiences more meaningful than witnessing a killer whale enjoying the freedom of the open ocean.
In Japan, although the government appears to operate under international law, it is often found to use the "scientific research" loophole. This includes whaling in Antarctica. There are also government subsidies in place to promote this "scientific research". I understand a little about subsidies, in America we have subsidies on milk so prices are kept low enough for people with low incomes to buy milk. I am starting to see why the anti-whale people are a bit put out by Japan. If this is so important to their culture, why does this industry need subsidies to survive?
The Makah’s seemingly domestic issue of whaling has and is taking on a larger international problem. The United States plays a large part in policing the hunting of whales, one of the most recent examples being the U.S.’s ...
In conclusion, education, research and conservation is a very important role that we can make to improve the lives of Orca whales, but at what cost? When you have to take an animal out of its natural habitat and deprive it of all its natural instincts, cause unnecessary emotional and physical problems, and put the lives of the whales and their trainers at risk, what are we learning? That it’s okay to possess them merely for our entertainment and profit? A wild animal’s life remains destroyed and many lives have ended, all for dangerous entertainment.
How would you feel if your mother was murdered directly in front of you and you were only a few weeks old and you did not know how to fend for yourself? That's what these poacher are doing of these whales. They look for mother with fairly new calves because it means they have more fat on them. The more fat the more oil they produce which makes for more money. In Greenland they kill at most ten whales a year. While in Japan they kill five hundred and thirty to seven hundred
Blue whales, also known as (Balaenoptera musculus), are considered one of the largest animals today (NOAA). A blue whale can grow up to “80- 100 feet in length and may weigh up to 200 tons” (World Wild Life).
Orca whales do not like to be taken from their family, held captive for many decades and put with other whales that they do not know. No other living organism on this planet would like to be put through the same thing. Orca whales are highly social animals, they are very intelligent, and are very emotional. If they are kept away from other whales, fed intermittently and received little attention from staff makes them get very emotional and can lead to death of people and the whales. Orca whales should not be held captive; they are beautiful creatures that are not great for people’s amusement and if they are treated poorly, they will act poorly.
I agree with the Norwegian and Japanese positions on permitting the hunting of non-endangered species of whales as a cultural exemption. Both of these cultures have been whaling for thousands of years. One stipulation that I would add in order to qualify for a cultural exemption is that the hunting should take place in a historically accurate manner. For the Japanese, this would mean using nets to catch the whales.
...d the economic, ethical, and practical aspects of international regulation. Different views of ecology, culture, and legitimacy as they pertain to a valued resource and its exploitation for human purposes. While it is safe to say one must preserve the historical and cultural value of whaling nations and nations around the world, it can also be said of animals. While many nations continue to cling to their cultural ancestry background of whaling and the right for scientific research, it is proven that such human endeavors must be carefully and faithfully regulated. Commercial whaling has essentially seized to exist in the clear claims of such, but Japan and other nations are ever so slightly getting closer to that boundary. “We should remember in our dealings with animals that they are a sacred trust to us…[They] cannot speak for themselves” (Harriet Beecher Stowe).
Imagine living in a small cage for an eternity. How would one feel? How would one react? How would one live? Orcas have been captured and forced to live a life filled with strangers and unsatisfactory administration . However, performing whales provide knowledge, jobs, money, and entertainment to people all over the world. Orcas should be free in the wild because they do not receive proper nutrition or care. Also they get stressed out from being confined to a limited space. Society might say that the money, jobs, and entertainment is a great benefit to the world and is harmless to the orcas. But they are remarkably unaware that there are so many horrific things that orcas endure to be a slave superstar. Whales should be free in the wild where they belong and ban captivity.
For almost 400 years, whales have been chased to near extinction. Vessels have travelled the globe to find and extract precious oil and gather whale meat to eat. This has resulted in over 10,000 whales being executed since the moratorium in 1986. A moratorium is a delay or suspension of an activity or a law and in this case a suspension of whaling. Also a ...
Whale watching tours offer some of the most unforgettable experiences you can have on a holiday. Just imagine these gentle majestic creatures close by, larger than life, spouting a stream of water in the air right in front of you - it may well be one of the most awe-inspiring sights you will ever see in your life! You will want to make sure that your tour stays etched in your memories for the right reasons, not the wrong ones. This is why choosing a reputable, knowledgeable operator plays a large part in ensuring a holiday you'll remember with fondness for the rest of your life.
The act of whaling is defined as “the capturing, hunting and killing of whales for primarily oil and meat” (Jackson). Whaling is an activity that was conducted all throughout history by our ancestors, dating back to 3000 B.C. For people in cold climates, whale meat acted as a major source of food and provided sufficient amounts of vitamins A, C, D, iron and protein. The excess parts of whales could be used to make light lamps, tools and sleds. Most modern societies no longer depend on whaling for resources, but it still remains deeply embedded into some cultures. The extinction of whales could prove to have major repercussions on an ecosystem or the aquatic environment. Commercial hunting of whales by several countries has greatly reduced whale populations and is threatening their existence. Conservationists also argue that whales show signs of high intelligence and exposing them to the inhumane methods of whaling and pain is cruel. These reasons are why whaling is a controversial environmental topic and is creating tensions between countries. So the question is: should the act of whaling be banned?