Welcome to IKAN
- Protest Statement - Please do not add fin whales to the commercial whaling program
Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister of State
Mr. Tetsushi Sakamoto, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
To Mr. Takeshi Mori, Director-General of the Fisheries Agency
On May 9, the Government of Japan announced that it plans to modify the Fishery Resource Management Guidelines and add fin whales to the commercial whaling program.
Fin whales were taken in very large numbers during the heyday of commercial whaling in the past and were in danger of extinction. Although their numbers are on the way to recovery due to the suspension of whaling, they are still listed as a "vulnerable species" on the IUCN Red List and need to be protected. The news reports state that "the number is increasing" as the reason for adding them to the take list, but there is no mention in any of the reports about the basis for the increase, and no scientific basis can be found anywhere in the government's policy. Nor is there an internationally recognized population estimate for fin whales. Nevertheless, in making this revision, we are asking for public comments within a short period of time, from May 7 to June 5. Those who want to profit from the hunt may be in favor of expanding the quota even without a clear rationale, but what opinion can the general public offer without a clear scientific basis?
Since the resumption of commercial whaling in 2019, whaling companies have been running whaling in the economic exclusion zone. However, inventories have built up despite the fact that their supply of whale meat is lower than during the research whaling era. In fact, the industry has inventory more than their annual catch , and there is no evidence that the need for whale meat is increasing. In fact, the industry has managed to cover its needs with government 5.1billion yen of subsidies. While it may be desirable from the whaling industry's point of view to have a wider variety of meat to sell, it is unlikely that this will enable the industry to break away from its reliance on subsidies in the future.
Taking a rare species is internationally problematic, increases concerns about Japan, and does not benefit our citizens in any way.
We oppose the commercial whaling of fin whales.
[Press Release] Demand for whale meat is now so low in Japan, it is used for pet food
May 17th 2022
Press Release
Demand for whale meat is now so low in Japan, it is used for pet food
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is casting a shadow over our lives as it follows the economic stagnation caused by the Corona pandemic that has continued over the past three years. In the midst of this situation, the government has approved the draft budget for 2022, which includes a variety of issues. It is very unfortunate that the budget of approximately 5.1 billion yen related to whaling is included in this year's budget.
Four years ago, on December 28, 2018, then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced that Japan would withdraw from the International Whaling Commission and begin commercial whaling. Then, in July of the following year, one large mothership whaling company and four small coastal whaling companies began commercial whaling.
However, despite the desperate efforts of each of these companies, demand for whale meat has not returned, and stocks keep piling up. It has become clear that the whaling industry can no longer stand on its own without government support, while the government has stated that it plans to end its support for the whaling industry
The Japanese governmenta is writing a new law that can ensure the continuance of commercial whaling
During the Diet session open until December 9th, the Japanese government is aiming to rewrite the 2017 research whaling law into a new law that can ensure the continuance of commercial whaling.
Japan has reopened commercial whaling upon withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission, the only international body managing cetaceans and whaling. Rejoining the organization as an observer is not enough to meet the requirement set by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
It is also problematic that the government is announcing to the whalers the catch limit based on the calculation still not fully in accordance with the RMP determined by the IWC.
On the resumption of commercial whaling
An open letter to:
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Takamori Yoshikawa
Fisheries Agency Director-General Shigeto Hase
On the resumption of commercial whaling
June 28, 2019
Iruka & Kujira (Dolphin & Whale) Action Network
The Japanese government announced last December that it would withdraw from the International Whaling Commission, an operating body of the International Convention of Regulation of Whaling, and instead resume commercial whaling from July this year in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
We, Iruka & Kujira (Dolphin & Whale) Action Network, object to Japan’s exit from the commission, it is our belief that international agreements are essential when addressing issues concerning migratory species such as cetaceans. Furthermore, based on the past experience, large mammals with low fertility rate, such as whales, are not suited for commercial use. In anticipating the return of commercial whaling, we would like you to address some our concerns and clarify uncertain issues.
Answers from the Fisheries Agency regarding the open letter from us.
We Oppose Japan’s Withdrawal from the IWC
December 28th, 2018
Iruka & Kujira (Dolphin & Whale) Action Network
On December 26th 2018, the government of Japan officially announced that it will withdraw from the International Whaling Commission (IWC), an organizational body for executing the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW). The government stated it will cease research whaling in high seas and resume commercial whaling in coastal waters and in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from July 2019.
The government of Japan insists that the reason for the withdrawal is the dysfunction of the IWC and the mass media is reporting this viewpoint. However, Japan has other reasons to discontinue research whaling and these factors all attribute back to the government itself: cost measures for refurbishing the deteriorating whaling factory ships, declining demand for whale meat, and Japan’s violation of the Washington Treaty.
