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Japan’s whale fleet returns to port
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| 20.09.2000; |
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Japan’s whale research vessels are scheduled to return to port tomorrow from their research in the northwestern Pacific. A total of 40 minke, 43 Bryde’s and 5 sperm whales were taken, according to a media release today from the Institue of Cetacean Research.
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| Dr. Seiji Ohsumi, Director General of the Institute of Cetacean Research that conducts the research authorized by the Government of Japan said today “Although this year’s program was launched as a feasibility study, we have collected important scientific information and made a good start to addressing the programs’ major objectives.” “The sample size obtained did not reach the numbers originally planned because this year’s program started a month later than initially planned,” explained Ohsumi. Originally, permits in the northwestern Pacific were issued for 100 minke whales, and for the first time, permits for 50 Bryde’s whales and 10 sperm whales. Dr. Ohsumi noted that significant observations and new findings were made concerning the distribution of minke, sperm and Bryde’s whales and the species and weight of the fish they consume. In addition, many more blue and fin whales than expected were sighted indicating that these populations are also recovering. The priority for Japan’s whale research in the north Pacific is to study the consumption of fish by whales in relation to the fisheries that provide food for humans. Other research objectives include the study of environmental effects such as chemical pollution on cetaceans and the marine ecosystem. Dr. Ohsumi explained that “Bryde’s and sperm whales were included in this research since they are larger than minke whales and because their populations are abundant they are major components of the ecosystem and likely consuming large quantities of fish.” The International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) Scientific Committee has calculated populations of 25,000 minke whales and 22,000 Bryde’s whales in the research area. Estimates for the population of sperm whales in the area is approximately 102,000 animals. “Clearly, our small research take poses no threat or risk to these populations,” said Dr. Ohsumi. Worldwide, there are more than one million minke whales and about two million sperm whales. Dr. Ohsumi further explained that “Cetacean/fisheries interactions have become a major issue worldwide. It is an important issue in the context of world food security since we have estimated that cetaceans consume 3 to 5 times the amount of marine resources harvested for human consumption. In the waters around Japan we have a situation of declining catches in certain fisheries while at the same time the sampling from our research program reveals that minke whales are eating at least 10 species of fish including Japanese anchovy, Pacific saury, walleye Pollock and other commercially important species.” “This research is therefore supported by a number of major fishing countries,” he said. Mr. Masayuki Komatsu, Japan’s Alternate Commissioner to the IWC said “Japan’s whale research is perfectly legal under the terms of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. This issue must be addressed from a scientific perspective. Emotionally based political interference and threats of sanctions by the Government of the United States may serve to satisfy certain extremist environmental groups but such actions against a perfectly legal and scientifically sound program are inappropriate.” The results from the research will be submitted to the IWC’s Scientific Committee next year. Earlier this year, in the Antarctic, as part of their scientific program, the Japanese whalers took 439 minke whales. For further information: |
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Japan whales, the US wails (HNWNews 14 Sep) Questions and answers Institute of Cetacean Research (Homepage) |
