Whale Wars (Cont’d): Japan Loses, But Plans to Eat as Many Whales as It Wants Anyway

Contrary to what news reports were suggesting earlier, Japan has lost its attempt to shift IWC rules on the number of whales it can catch under a 19 year old moratorium. Instead, it has announced that it will expand the number of whales it catches under the “scientific research” exception to the IWC moratorium.

…any contracting government may grant to any of its nationals a special permit authorising that national to kill, take and treat whales for purposes of scientific research subject to such restrictions as to number and subject to such other conditions as the contracting government thinks fit…

If this exception always existed, one wonders what all the posturing in the IWC is about. As I suggested earlier, Japan will probably eventually leave the IWC (it has apparently threatened to do so today). But why? It seems Japan gets most of what it wants without leaving.

In any case, keep an eye out for the newest addition to your local sushi bar’s offerings: Whale sushi, anyone?