The World's Whalers
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Japan - (Commercial) Research Whaling
Using Article VIII of the ICRW (the science loophole) as justification,
Japanese whalers kill hundreds of whales annually in the North Pacific and Southern oceans including endangered and
non-endangered species. Coastal fishermen in Japan also kill up to 20,000 small cetaceans, like dolphins, every year.
Japan serves as the world market for whale meat by importing endangered Fin whale from Iceland and Minke whale from Norway.
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Iceland - Commercial Whaling
Iceland initially accepted the global moratorium and began a "science" whaling program like Japan. International pressure
forced the nation to give up whaling entirely in 1989. However, by 2003 Iceland was hunting whales once again.
Today, one particular company in Iceland is notorious for killing great whales for commercial profit. Hvalur H/F lands
125 or more endangered Fin whales annually and exports much of the meat to Japan.
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Norway - Commercial Whaling
Norway officially objects to the moratorium on commercial whaling. Today, its whaling take is second
only to Japan's. Hundreds of common Minke whales are killed in arctic waters annually. However, due to declining demand for whale
meat, Norwegian whalers continue to halt the hunting season early and settle for smaller catches.
Despite the shrinking market, Norway continues to increase the size of its self-issued quotas and exports whale meat to both Iceland and Japan.
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Greenland - (Commercial) Aboriginal Whaling
The Inuit communities of Greenland are permited to hunt Minke, Bowhead, endangered Fin whales and now Humpback whales in limited
numbers for local nutritional "subsistence". They also hunt small cetaceans such as Narwhals and Belugas.
However, investigation has revealed the subsistence meat is sold for commercial profit in supermarkets,
restaurants and even cruise liners docked in Greenland's harbors. Greenland is represented by Denmark at the IWC.
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Alaska (United States) - Aboriginal Whaling
The Inupiat of Alaska are permited to hunt Bowhead whales in limited numbers for local nutritional "subsistence".
They also hunt small cetaceans such as Belugas. The whale meat is distributed within the native communities.
The United States, in representing the Alaskan natives at the IWC, is sometimes forced to concede decisions
on the quotas of other nations. At the 62nd annual IWC meeting the US delegation stated, "they have been used as
bargaining chips in other debates."
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Chukotka (Russia) - Aboriginal Whaling
The Yupik and Chukchi people of Chukotka are permited to hunt Bowhead whales and Gray whales (up to 140 annually) for
local nutritional "subsistence". They also hunt small cetaceans such as Belugas.
About 10-12 percent of the Gray whales taken in Chukotka are called "stinky whales" due to an overwhelming medicinal odor
which makes them unpalatable. The cause of the odor has not been determined.
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Bequia (Grenadines) - Aboriginal Whaling
Although the original inhabitants of Bequia disappeared long ago, a few of the descendents of the Arawak people and African slaves
continue to use the old Yankee whaling techniques introduced to the former British colony around the 1850s.
Only one or two Humpback whales are killed annually in Bequia. The whale meat and blubber is distributed and sold within the island
community. However, the island is not dependent on whaling for food security.
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Lamalera (Indonesia) - Aboriginal Whaling
Indonesia is not a signatory of the ICRW. However, the village of Lamalera on the island of Lembata continues a tradition
of whaling. From wooden open boats the villagers use hand held harpoons and knives to kill Sperm whales.
Due to overfishing of rays and sharks by foreign fishing fleets, Lamalera has become increasingly dependent on whaling.
The whale meat is distributed in the village and bartered with neighboring communities for other goods.
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Nunavut (Canada) - (Commercial) Aboriginal Whaling
Following a 1972 UN resolution for a moratorium on whaling, Canada unilaterally stopped its commercial whaling operations.
The nation later left the IWC in 1981. Today whaling is conducted by Inuit communities under quotas established by the
Canadian government Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Inuit communities are permited to hunt Bowhead whales in limited numbers as well as Belugas and Narwhals. The meat
is also sold in northern shops and supermarkets.
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Faroe Islands (Denmark) - Drive Hunting
Residents of the Faroe Islands annually round up and slaughter pilot whales in a ritual called "Grindadráp". The practice
is not regulated by the IWC. Hooks, ropes and knives are used to dispatch the cetaceans corralled in shallow water. The meat
and blubber is distributed among the participants in the hunt.
Faroese doctors have declared pilot whale meat to be unsafe for human consumption due to the levels of toxic chemicals and
metals in the body tissues of cetaceans.
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