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JAPAN AND THE MANAGEMENT OF WHALES

JAPAN'S PRIMARY INTEREST at the IWC (International Whaling Commission) is to keep the principle of sustainable use, which is applicable to other international forum related to the management of wildlife and marine living / fishery resources. The ICRW (International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, under which the IWC is established ) stipulates itself as "a convention to provide proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry."

THE POPULATIONS OF VARIOUS WHALE SPECIES have been estimated using scientific data taken by advanced sighting survey methods. In some stocks high population estimates have been calculated by the Scientific Committee of the IWC. The IWC estimated the stock size of minke whales in the Antarctic, for example, to be more than 760,000 animals.

THE PRINCIPLE OF SUSTAINABLE USE of renewable natural resources was affirmed at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. Whales are one of the resources to which the concept of sustainable use is applicable.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY exists among the different countries. Mutual acknowledgment of distinct cultures is critically important. Many countries, including Japan, have a traditional food culture based upon consumption of marine products. Western anthropologists confirm that whales are one of the most important elements in Japanese food culture.

THE IWC IN 1982 DECIDED THE MORATORIUM on commercial whaling by a split voting. The claim at that time was the uncertainty of the stock status. The Schedule of the Convention required the Commission to review this provision by 1990 at the latest based on the best scientific advise. Although the IWC Scientific Committee completed its scientific work toward this objective, the IWC has failed to revise the moratorium.

LEGALLY THE IWC has an objective to achieve the orderly development of the whaling industry and conservation of whale stocks. Nevertheless, the 16 year old moratorium on commercial whaling still exists and the Sanctuary in the Southern Ocean was introduced against the letter and spirit of the ICRW.

THE CURRENT UNREASONABLE SITUATION of the IWC should be corrected through the serious efforts of the Contracting Governments. We believe first of all that scientific information, rather than political and emotional factors, should be the basis of any decision at the IWC. Second, the legal integrity of the IWC must be maintained by observing the letter and spirit of the ICRW. Third, respect for distinct cultures and life-style should be also properly taken into account.

NOW JAPAN, in an attempt to normalize the responsibilities and obligations of the IWC, is making efforts to:

1. PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION to ensure advanced whale resource management. Japanese scientific surveys include sighting surveys for estimation of whale population and comprehensive biological studies using a limited research take of minke whales as provided for under the ICRW. Sighting surveys are appropriate means to grasp the general number and geographical distribution of whales, but are not sufficient. Sampling surveys are essential for (a) estimation of such biological parameters as age composition, sexual maturity and pregnancy rate required for stock assessment of whales, and (b) elucidation of the roles of whales, prey-predator relationship between whales and their food sources etc., in various marine ecosystems. These research efforts need to be continued to answer questions raised by the IWC scientists.
2. INTRODUCING OPINIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL EXPERTS to correct questionable decisions of the IWC. Particularly, strong opinion that the Southern Ocean Sanctuary contradicted the letter and spirit of the ICRW exists among the international lawyers.
3. PRESENTING VIEWS OF INTERNATIONAL ANTHROPOLOGISTS on the cultural and socio-economic significance of whaling in some Japanese small coastal communities. An Interim quota of minke whales for these communities is necessary to alleviate the current serious hardships resulting from the moratorium by the IWC.
4. ENFORCING CURRENT REGULATIONS of the IWC as a responsible contracting party, although some of the past IWC decisions are still legally questionable.
   

We are pleased to invite every nation to join our effort to correct the distorted situation surrounding the sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of human beings, particularly, for future generations.