The only global organization that has ever tried to control whaling may be on the rocks. The International Whaling Commission, says a U.S. official, "might just fall apart" at its June meeting in Morocco if delegates fail to reach consensus on overhauling the 63-year-old voluntary organization.
An IWC collapse would dissolve what's left of a legally unenforceable 24-year moratorium on commercial whaling, leaving Japan and fellow whalers to hunt freely.
The whales' edibility is a prime issue. Even if they could accept limited coastal commercial whaling, environmentalists are unwilling to let Japan continue whaling in the so-called Antarctic sanctuary, where whale meat is less tainted by mercury and other industrial wastes. The fact that it's risky to devour meat from northern whales and dolphins offers an incentive for Japan to give up the hunt--so long as the Antarctic is off-limits.
"We're trying to prove we've made the environment so toxic they can't eat them," explained Louie Psihoyos to an audience at New York's Asia Society weeks ago, after screening The Cove, his Academy Award-winning expose of how Japanese villagers trick, trap, and slay dolphins. Hunting in the South Atlantic provides Japan with whale flesh that at least meets national health standards for mercury intake.
Since there seems to be no way to stop Japan from killing cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), the Obama Administration is poised to compromise on commercial whaling in order to secure broader, more effective regulation by the IWC. If Japan chooses to cooperate, that is. Its recent success at thwarting protection for depleted, sashimi-bound Atlantic bluefin tuna during a UN wildlife session does not augur well.
IWC meetings are rancorous affairs at which neither side wins the three-quarters majority needed to change anything. Founded by whaling nations, the IWC was taken over by whaling opponents in the 1980s, since which time Japan has used foreign aid to recruit support from Caribbean and Asian countries. (Dominica dramatically reversed its pro-whaling position last year.)
A three-year effort to reorder the IWC (read the talking points from a recent working session) would create a South Atlantic Sanctuary and beef up conservation efforts to help the world's biggest mammals cope with oceanic pollution, ship strikes, climate change, and sonic disruption. In an historic compromise, countries that hunt whales could do so along their coasts--and Japan could continue to exploit Antarctic waters--but only under an enforceable legal agreement that the U.S. official said must unquestionably cap whaling "at a significant decrease" below the current fatality rate. "Numbers are key."
The IWC estimates that 1,700 to 1,900 whales have been slaughtered in each of the last five years, about six times the 1990 toll. Japan hunts whales for "scientific research," then sells the meat. Constraints are flatly rejected by Norway and Iceland, whose whaling is authorized by Minister of Fisheries--and Green Party leader--SteingrÃmur J. Sigfússon.
Japanese fleets kill some 1,200 whales a year, mostly in the Antarctic. Research in Japanese shops has found that packaged meat from whales--particularly those with teeth--has high levels of mercury contamination. (It is claimed that baleen whales such as the minke targeted by most of today's whalers have low levels of mercury because they consume smaller fish, but research has shown that northern minkes can carry plenty of mercury.)
Continuous high-level mercury exposure can snuff out brain cells and destroy human senses. It can render people deaf, numb, and blind. Exposure by hatmakers to it gave rise to the expression "mad as a hatter."
Japanese consumers aren't told much about the risks in their seafood. They're still trying to forget decades of mercury poisoning wrought by greed, duplicity, and bureaucratic obstruction. In 1956 residents and pets in Minimata City developed problems talking and walking. Some suffered convulsions. Three years later it was determined that they'd developed neurological problems from consuming fish and shellfish exposed to methyl mercury. A chemical plant continued dumping the heavy metal in local waters until 1968, by which time thousands had developed Minimata Disease.
Americans don't know much about mercury, either. Anti-vaccine activists attribute a host of medical problems to thimerosol--a preservative in flu shots that contains mercury--but they don't care much about the burning of coal, which has infused mercury in the earth's waters.
Last August, the U.S. Geological Survey announced that a 1998-2005 study of fish in 291 U.S. freshwater streams found every sample contaminated with mercury. "More than two-thirds of the fish exceeded the U.S. EPA level of concern for fish-eating mammals," with some of the highest levels recorded in relatively untouched Southern watersheds. (Read this USGS fact sheet.)
Still, reports Bloomberg, Wall Street analysts are recommending shares in Peabody Coal and dismissing stock in solar vendors, whose projects are losing government support worldwide. "Coal is burned to make about 41% of power worldwide and will increase its share to 44% by 2030," the International Energy Agency forecasts.
That means fish and cetaceans at the top of the food chain will accumulate ever-greater volumes of mercury. A New York Times probe in 2008 found that most tuna sushi in New York restaurants contained extremely high levels, much of it derived from Atlantic bluefin tuna, one of the world's greatest predators. Bluefin are being "annihilated" by overfishing,
There are less direct ways for mercury to enter our food chain. With few eager to consume the fruits of whaling, Iceland may be trying to turn its catch into industrial feed kibbles. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society noted recently that Iceland had been caught smuggling whale meat to Estonia and said government reports showed that tons of minced, processed whale meat might have reached Denmark's pork, salmon, and fur farms. Iceland's government swiftly said that it had merely mislabeled exports of fishmeal.
If the IWC reform should pan out, one innovation would create a DNA register so that meat from whales--such as that seized in a recent Malibu restaurant bust--could be traced to the ship that processed it.
Public comment on the proposed IWC reform closes April 1. So far conservation organizations have opposed any compromise. A Pew Environment Group statement at last June's IWC session indicated that Japanese coastal whaling might be accepted "only if it agrees to end scientific whaling and commits to respect internationally agreed whale sanctuaries."
As it happens, the U.S. commissioner for the IWC used to be a senior officer in Pew Environment Group. Monica Medina, U.S. Commissioner for the IWC since February, emphasizes that the U.S. hasn't yet taken a position. A formal proposal is due to be put forth as of April 22, either by a member nation or by working group Chairman Christian Maquieira of Chile, whose "mantra" has been the following: "Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed."
"The point of the compromise is to close gaping loopholes that have let whaling increase tremendously in the last 10 years and bring it under international control," says Medina, an environmental lawyer who serves as the Commerce Dept.'s principal deputy undersecretary for oceans and atmosphere. "If there's to be a compromise, we need to say with confidence that we're not doing any harm to species or stocks."
That leaves the U.S. potentially tolerating Antarctic whaling. "It would be best if there were no whaling in the sanctuary but unfortunately whales are hunted there now--and it could possibly be many fewer under the compromise," says Medina. "I'd like to see a significant reduction in whaling everywhere. We want to make it more of a sanctuary."
In June, Medina will lead the U.S. delegation to a potentially climactic IWC session in Agadir, Morocco. She knows what she's up against: Medina was at the meeting in Qatar when Japan scuttled proposals to preserve bluefin tuna. If she cuts a deal with the whalers, environmentalists will be outraged. If she doesn't--and the IWC falls apart--more countries might opt to hunt in the Antarctic.
In any event, the seas seem certain to become more toxic. Whales will continue to be poisoned, then slaughtered, by their cousins at the top of the food chain: people.
Roz Savage: How to Poison 65 Million Square Miles of Ocean
Not to mention that while those three countries ignored the rules, and killed many whales, now- by legalizing whaling OTHER countries who have put a halt to it may start up again. Whaling is very profitable... and, I'd bet my life- no, really I would bet my life that Norway, Japan, and Iceland would STILL kill as many whales as they want anyway in addition to the new countries doing it.
So- whales on the brink of extinction will be hunted, the countries targeted would still have to agree to the terms, and would probably keep doing the same thing, AND it opens the door to other countries starting again. Put into the mix there is NO fast way to kill a whale- no humane way, and unlike fish, they won't "just" suffocate since they breath air. They start rendering them while they're still alive, and have to harpoon them many times just to be able to haul them to the boat.
I am so glad that while I did think Obama was the best of the choices, that I didn't think he walked on water like so many people seemed to. I'm really not surprised.
A friend who is a sailboat skipper has told me about incredible spiritual encounters with dolphins who dance and circle around the boat. Yet how many people have the luxury to make that personal kind of connection?
So the question is, how do we really raise awareness about what is happening before it's too late? And we're talking about butterflies, whales, dolphins, bees, and so on, all are under terrible threat.
Of course, there are so many people trying to do just that. But I guess what I'm asking is when do more artists really step up to the plate? Why not a 3D movie unabashedly about the destruction of the biosphere? Like MJ's Earth Song but taking it all the way..
Let's get real. 12 comments here? It's heartbreaking....
We need more novels, movies, and leadership from the arts... there has to be 12,000... 120,000... 1.200,000 here...... I just finished reading American Fever. Wow. And it's not a best seller? I wouldn't have found it if it wasn't mentioned here. It is one hell of a read and inspired me to come back and write this second comment.. ART HAS ITS OWN MINISTRY. Come on, folks. This is an urgent plea to all you artists out there. Jesse Dylan, Will.I.AM, Woody Harrelson, and those still unknown: NOW IS THE TIME TO GET BUSY..GET THE MESSAGE OUT...
The only thing I would like to add is you say that Americans don't really know much about mercury poisoning. Maybe we all need reminders of what happened in Minimata City. Look at a photo like this if you are new to the subject:
http://vivalagong.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/image005.jpg
Expanding upon the symptoms of mercury poisoning that reported, we should all know that there can be serious hearing and speech impairments, narrowing of vision, crippling muscle weakness, coma, and often death that came weeks after the poisoning took place. There are also dramatic deformative effects on fetuses in the womb.
BTW, I've looked at your novel, American Fever. I found it really incredible and would like to give a thumbs up recommendation to anyone who is thinking about reading it. It's well-written, provocative, and well worth the time.
You're doing important work, Mr. Hall. Yes, it is time to fight for tougher legislation. Please keep posting and raising awareness.
Thank you very much for your comment. The photograph you linked (http://vivalagong.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/image005.jpg) is beautiful and harrowing.
And thanks very much for your warm words about my novel (http://www.americanfeverbook.com/). I'm very grateful.
Best, Peter
It's hard to say what would happen. The whaling nations would probably continue to whale and might step up their efforts, even though these are expensive and not economically productive. There would be no established body to contend with complaints or pressure the whalers.
According to this BBC article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8598436.stm), New Zealand is endorsing the proposed compromise. It's interesting that none of the whaling nations have put proposes hunting numbers on the table and are already drawing support under the assumption that they will agree to some reduction in annual kill.
The article states that Australia seems prepared to file a complaint against Japan:
"But Australia, which has threatened to take Japan to the International Court of Justice if it does not stop whaling in the Southern Ocean, reacted angrily to the comments.
"Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett said he was 'alarmed and very concerned that New Zealand would support a proposal that is flawed and represents a huge compromise to pro-whaling nations.'
"'Australia cannot support the compromise package now being discussed in the IWC,'" he said."
I interviewed Garrett once when he was the lead singer for Midnight Oil. I doubt he's bluffing, but I'm not at all sure the International Court would back Australia.
My guess? The collapse of the IWC might make things worse. It's unlikely to help any whales.
Best, Peter
Whaling is assuredly a filthy business. The question remains: What can be done about it. The Obama Administration, following in the steps of George W. Bush's U.S. commissioner to the IWC, is adopting the position that there is no way to stop the whaling nations, so it's better to allow limited whaling with strict caps at lower levels than are being killed today.
The issue I explored is the toxicity--not the morality--of eating cetacean flesh. Opponents hope healthy self-interest will lead northern whalers to quit eventually. Which is why there will be a big fight by environmentalists over Japan's insistence on continuing to hunt whales in the so-called Antarctic sanctuary.
Whaling doesn't pay for itself, either. This is why I noted the charge that Iceland was exporting minced whale meat as industrial feed. if whale flesh were to get into the food supply the way corn crud has done, it will be impossible to avoid. Cetaceans will be vacuumed up to be fed to fish farms, minks, and who-knows-what-else?
Best, Peter
I doubt we can ever evolve quickly enough to adapt to the volumes of toxins we spew forth these days.
Research indicates that selenium helps rid the body of mercury (Lead, too, if I recall correctly, although too much selenium can cause problems in itself). Many fish are rich in selenium, so fishing enthusiasts sometimes argue that there's no reason to avoid those varieties, which include tuna.
Here's a link to a page about this at naturalnews.com:
http://www.naturalnews.com/026729_selenium_mercury_tuna.html
Stay well & thanks for posting,
Peter
They didn't follow the rules when the restrictions were loose. They didn't follow the rules when the restrictions were tight. They didn't adhere to a global moratorium on commercial whaling. So exactly why does anyone in any government think these nations will suddenly clean up their acts and follow new rules?
IIf this were a confrontation over nuclear proliferation rather than whales, Japan, Iceland and Norway would all be treated like North Korea and Iran. Instead, these rogue nations have been given one compromise after another as they violated overall quotas, seasonal limits, endangered species protections, size/weight requirements, sanctuary boundaries and more. They've even supported illegal "pirate whaling" operations during the 70s and 80s where unlicensed, unregulated subsidiaries of Japanese fisheries killed whales without reporting the catch or respecting IWC resolutions while smuggling the meat to Japanese markets and the oil to Norway.
The industry is not necessary for the food security or economic prosperity of any nation. It's shameful.
It’s not in Japan's interests to see it fall apart, but it is in their interests to see it brought to its knees by the US and others.
Of course the US is not an independent player in this. Japan has repeatedly threatened the native people’s of Alaska’s access to whales on the grounds that it should get a commercial quota if the Inupiat get their quota. The option of not having to defend the Alaskan quota of bowheads from Japanese interference for ten years may be very welcome for the civil servants involved, but what is the price that the US is willing to pay for this ‘easy life’?
It’s the price that international cooperation on marine issues is to end. Japan has signaled at this years’ CITES meeting that it intends to roll back international marine management regimes and oppose anything that impinges on its ability to take from the seas whatever it wants.
The deal does nothing for whales and only delivers for the whalers. Its time for the US and others to come out fighting and not capitulating.