Whale conservation - Protecting the giants of the sea
You've probably seen whales appearing in the news quite a bit recently, with Japan's whaling fleet embarking for their annual "scientific whale" kill.
Whales, dolphins and porpoises are facing ever-increasing dangers despite the 20-year ban on commercial whaling. We've prepared a series of questions and answers on whale conservation and WWF's efforts to protect these magnificent creatures.
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What are the threats to whales?
Whales are currently under threat from a wide range of human activities, despite there being a moratorium in place against commercial whaling for over 20 years.
Over 1500 whales have been hunted each year since commercial whaling was banned in 1986. Whaling is taking place right now and increasing yearly.
Norway continues to hunt whales under objection to the IWC moratorium against commercial whaling. Japan has been whaling under the guise of 'scientific research', killing hundreds of whales each year and selling whale meat openly on the market.
In 2005, Japan more than doubled its 'scientific whaling' quotas in the Southern Hemisphere and to include the hunting of humpback and endangered fin whales. While Japan has promised to not hunt humpbacks for now, over 14 fin whales have been killed since 2005.
Iceland has also submitted a formal objection to the IWC moratorium against commercial whaling. Although claiming it would not undertake commercial whaling before 2006, Iceland has begun its own 'scientific whaling' program.
This is not acceptable. Scientific whaling is a tool of the past, and modern science is needed in the modern world.
In addition to this, nearly 1,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises are killed every day as bycatch in fishing nets.
What is WWF doing to protect whales?
WWF is working with members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to encourage whale conservation around the world.
WWF project staff leaving on a whale watching trip
© WWF-Canon/Emanuele COPPOLA
At recent IWC meetings, WWF lobbied vigorously to prevent pro-whaling nations gaining the majority vote at the meeting. A pro-whaling vote could end the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling and reverse progress that has been made to make the conservation of whales, not hunting, the focus of the IWC.
We will continue to work with IWC member nations to prevent a return to uncontrolled commercial whaling, and promote whale conservation in the face of marine pollution, climate change, ship strikes, fisheries bycatch, noise pollution and other human-caused threats to whale populations.
In essence, that means making the IWC an effective international forum for the conservation of all cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), particularly those that are endangered.
We are also working to encourage the establishment of additional whale sanctuaries in the South Pacific and South Atlantic, and to strengthen existing sanctuaries. We are also working to provide support to countries wishing to establish whale conservation initiatives.
What is 'scientific whaling'?
WWF believes that scientific whaling is nothing more than an instrument of profit and politics used to circumvent the moratorium on commercial whaling.
Japan's 'scientific whaling' program is subsidised by the Government of Japan, and the meat from the whales - including minke, Bryde's, sei and sperm whales - is sold on the Japanese market. Japan has killed more than 24,000 whales under the guise of 'scientific whaling' and, due to a loop hole in the IWC's legislation, the body has no power to stop it.
Japan has come under heavy criticism within the international scientific community including the IWC’s Scientific Committee as to whether the results of its 'scientific whaling' operation actually contribute towards the conservation and management of whale populations.
Iceland also hunts whales allegedly for 'scientific research'.
There are more modern, non-lethal techniques available that are also more reliable in providing data on whale biology.
For example, genetic analysis of small skin samples - collected with a non-harmful special biopsy dart - is now widely used to understand the population structure of many mammals, including whales. This technique helps determine the status of whale populations in different geographic areas.
Are fishing nets a serious threat to whale populations?
Hector's dolphin calf killed in gillnet
© Stephen DAWSON
WWF has found that around 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises are killed each year as bycatch in fishing nets. This translates to nearly 1,000 cetaceans killed each day in fishing nets.
Bycatch is when unwanted fish and other species are caught up in fishing gear. It has been revealed as one of the greatest global threats facing dolphins, porpoises, and whales. When dolphins and other species, which breathe air, get caught up in the nets, they often get trapped underwater and drown.
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A return to full-scale commercial whaling?
The next meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) will take place 21-25 June 2010 in Agadir, Morocco.
While there, members will vote on a new proposal put forward by the IWC Chair that would allow commercial whaling in the Southern Ocean for the first time in almost 25 years.
The IWC Chair has also proposed commercial whaling quotas for whale species listed by the IUCN as endangered.
Why?
The IWC has been at a standstill for several years now with countries whaling outside the IWC's control. The proposal put forward by the IWC Chair is an attempt to make a deal that will break the deadlock between pro-whaling and pro-conservation nations and reduce the number of whales killed each year.
The IWC has suggested a compromise version but we do not support this compromise unless it is revised to include the following six points:
- End all whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.
- If any whaling is authorized the whale products must be for domestic consumption only.
- Any agreed catch limits for whales must be calculated by the IWC Scientific Committee using the published version of the Revised Management Procedure (RMP), which is specifically designed to safeguard whale populations while providing for some sustainable use as long as the species being considered is determined to have a healthy population.
- No whales should be killed that are either a threatened species or in a threatened population.
- End all so-called scientific whaling.
- If this deal goes through then governments should not be allowed to lodge any reservations and attempt to operate outside of the IWC.
What is the future of whale sanctuaries?
The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is under threat by this year's IWC proposal to allow commercial whaling in the area. Southern Ocean whales are now subject to a range of threats including climate change. The re-introduction of commercial whaling in this area would undoubtedly have dire effects on this fragile region.
A pro-whaling IWC threatens the existence of whale sanctuaries and makes it difficult to establish new sanctuaries in the future.
Whaling countries have so far succeeded in blocking the required 3/4 majority vote to establish new whale sanctuaries in the South Atlantic and South Pacific.
WWF encourages the establishment of additional IWC whale sanctuaries, and provides support to those countries wishing to establish new sanctuaries.
WWF supports the continued efforts of New Zealand and Australia to unite the existing network of sanctuaries through the submission of a proposal for an IWC South Pacific Sanctuary.
WWF also strongly supports the proposal from Brazil and Argentina to establish a sanctuary in the South Atlantic - a region in which whale-watching has been steadily increasing, providing both ecotourism income and research opportunities.
What is the International Whaling Commission?
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is an international convention with 88 member countries established for the conservation and management whale populations around the world.
The IWC was established in 1946 and at this time was very much a 'whalers' club'.
But as whale populations hit record lows and world opinion turned against whale slaughters, most of the IWC nations became pro-conservation.
Unfortunately, this could be reversed with many new pro-whaling members joining the IWC - most of which have no whaling operations of their own.
Visit the IWC website for more information about the IWC.
