commercial whaling

Why Whales Matter

Humpback whales mating on tour with Travelers of the World Video

Whales are amongst the most intelligent marine mammals on earth. The blue whale is the biggest animal to ever exist. In spite of this history, industrial whaling has actually left the whale species very endangered. Thankfully, whaling has been ended in countless nations, but still exists in some. The impact of this continued whaling endangers the existence of the animals, and if not stopped, could wipe out whales.

The adverse impact humans have actually had on whales stems from the commercial hunting for meat and perfume compounds. More than 2 million whales were killed in the early 20th century. By the middle of the 20th century, whales were seriously endangered and amounts were diminished. In 1986 the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned commercial whaling, but Japan continues to neglect this ban. When the ban was in place, Japan continued to hunt whales using a loophole that provides for scientific research. The meat from these hunts is offered in shops and restaurants. Though Japan is skirting the rules, and it is frowned upon by the IWC, the IWC still allows it.

Whales add to the ecological selection of the oceans. Whales ingest krill, fish, and small mammals. Whales come in lots of designs and sizes and are discovered all over the globe. In spite of their variety, most species of whales are at danger due to hunting, habitat changes, and human population decrease. If whales were to go extinct, there might be a significant unfavorable influence on the natural world.

Whale hunting has been worldwide banned since 1986. The International Whaling Commission enacted this ban however left a number of loopholes open. Whales can easily be fished for medical investigation, as well as by a couple of aboriginal groups. Japan hunts whales to utilize their meat and alleges that they are executing medical research. The non-profit business Sea Shepherd helps oversee Japan and protect against excess hunting.

If you are one of the millions of individuals who want to contribute in ending this unlawful task, you can easily visit www.seashepherd.org to learn more about exactly how you can easily get include and help the business in stopping Japanese whale angling.