Illegal Commercial Whaling of Baleen, Bowhead, Minke, and Right Whales



Illegal Commercial Whaling of Baleen, Bowhead, Minke, and Right Whales

Whaling is hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3,000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales. (Williams 2004) Industrial whaling emerged with organized fleets in 17th century; competitive national whaling industries in 18th and 19th centuries; and introduction of factory ships along with concept of whale harvesting in first half of 20th century (Hearst 2004).

As technology increased and demand for seemingly vast resources remained high, catches far exceeded carrying capacity of whale stocks. In late 1930s more than 50,000 whales were killed annually and by middle of century whale stocks were not being replenished. In 1986 International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned commercial whaling so that stocks might recover (Angier 2004).

While moratorium has been successful in averting extinction of whale species due to overhunting, contemporary whaling is subject to intense debate. Pro-whaling countries wish to lift ban on stocks that they believe have recovered sufficiently to sustain limited hunting (Williams 2004). Anti-whaling countries and environmental groups contend that those stocks remain vulnerable and that whaling is immoral and should remain banned.

Seven out of 13 great whale species are still endangered or vulnerable, even after decades of protection. Whales, dolphins and porpoises are succumbing to new and ever-increasing dangers (Hearst 2004). Collisions with ships and entanglement in fishing gear threaten North Atlantic right whale with extinction, while Critically Endangered Western North Pacific gray whale is at serious risk because of intensive oil and gas development in its feeding grounds. Alarm is also growing over other hazards including toxic contamination, effects of climate change and habitat degradation (Angier 2004).It's illegal, but it still happens: commercial whalingDespite the moratorium on commercial whaling and declaration of virtually whole of Southern Ocean as the whale sanctuary, each year over 1,000 whales are killed for commercial market (Williams 2004).What WWF is doingIn order to help secure future of world's whales, WWF is developing the ambitious conservation programme for endangered whale species and populations (Hearst 2004).Reduce threats to increase their numbersThe WWF Cetaceans Action Plan aims to ensure that by 2012, the significant reduction of threats to cetacean populations that are either currently endangered, or are likely to become endangered in foreseeable future, is achieved (Angier 2004). WWF is working for the significant reduction of threats to endangered populations of great whales as well as several smaller cetaceans.The organization is also combating risks to whales by lobbying to bring whale hunting under strict control of International Whaling Commission, through field research, training and capacity building, conservation education, and by securing improved national and international action and agreements (Williams 2004).Through support to TRAFFIC, wildlife trade monitoring programme of WWF and IUCN, organisation is closely investigating and monitoring illegal trade in whale meat (Hearst 2004).

Physical Description

There are over 80 species of cetaceans, the group made up of whales, dolphins and porpoises. Cetaceans are air-breathing, warm-blooded mammals ...