Whale meat consumption increasing

[david@tokyo]

Analysis of official frozen marine product stockpile figures published by The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries indicate that whale meat consumption has been rising in Japan annually for the 3 years for which figures are available, contrasting strongly with reports in the western media to the contrary.

The increasing consumption figures reconcile with recent Japanese media reports of increasing sales through supermarkets and restaurant chains. Icelandic commercial whalers have recently stated that they wish to sell some of their approximately 100 tonnes of fin whale meat to the Japanese market, indicating their belief that there is a market for additional whale meat.

The statements appearing in the western media have incorrectly interpreted increasing stockpile levels as indicating a lack of demand in the Japanese market. Consumption trends cannot be derived by examining increasing stockpiles, which have recently seen increases in supply due to the JARPA II research programme, in which the number of whales taken roughly doubled. This information tell us only about the supply side. Consumption trends, on the other hand, are indicated by volumes of outgoing frozen whale meat stocks. These volumes have in fact been increasing, not decreasing.

Some still point to year on year increases in the level of the stockpile, but this is because the whale meat is not consumed immediately once it arrives on the stockpiles. Whaling is a seasonal activity. Current consumption trends indicate that by February 2007, the level of stocks remaining in frozen storage will likely decrease as compared to 2006 and 2005. From 2007/2008 onwards, levels of supply will again stabilise due to the full commencement of the JARPA II research programme.

CONCLUSION: There is a strong demand for whale meat in Japan. It's important for proper conservation of target whale stocks that global whaling activities be properly regulated with international oversight, such as by the IWC, to ensure that whaling operations are sustainable, and that whaling operators do not exceed scientifically agreed catch limits.

(All figures are available at my blog at david-in-tokyo.blogspot.com)

[Thunderthief]

Mmm... whale tastey.

or not, i find the meat disgusting anyway

[david@tokyo]

Whale meat, is after all, just meat.

Although, I've had some quite tasty whale meat, as well as some not so tasty stuff. The blubber in particular was pretty disgusting and I can't recommend it. But I've had some really excellent tasting stuff as well.

Like anything, once you've had it a few times you learn to appreciate the unique flavour.

[david@tokyo]

An update:
# Outgoing whale meat stock in 2006 totalled 8,558 tonnes, as compared to 5,955 tonnes in 2005 (a 44% increase year on year)
More details at my blog (with latest figures for January also)

(URL: david-in-tokyo.blogspot.com/search/label/stockpile%20figures )

[KirinMan]

Whale meat, is after all, just meat.
Although, I've had some quite tasty whale meat, as well as some not so tasty stuff. The blubber in particular was pretty disgusting and I can't recommend it. But I've had some really excellent tasting stuff as well.
Like anything, once you've had it a few times you learn to appreciate the unique flavour.

Truly it depends on the quality of the cut of the whale meat itself. There was a time that people were passing off dolphin and porpise meat as whale as well, that was some really nasty tasting stuff too.......arghhh, shudder, shudder.

[heliobacter]

I'd like to see some kind of survey, broken down to demographic, psychographic aspects etc.

Any tips?

[centrajapan]

I am happy that the whale consumption in Japan has increased. Now it would be good if Norway could export whale meat to Japan.

[david@tokyo]

centrajapan,

Indeed. Apparently the Fisheries Agency has the matter under consideration, but has stated that the decision will be made with both domestic and international conditions taken into consideration.

Currently Japan is looking towards discussions about restoring the IWC's role as a whaling management organization, and they may be reluctant to take any measures which may make it seem as if they are insincere in their desire to work in good faith within the IWC.

However, if it is clear that the IWC can't be restored in such a manner, I imagine Japan may resume imports from Iceland and Norway as a hint towards the anti-whaling nations that it is serious.

[Goldiegirl]

I think Japan has over fished tuna, whale will be next.

[pipokun]

I think Japan has over fished tuna, whale will be next.

Wrong.

AGRICULTURE FORESTRY AND FISHERIES IN JAPAN
(3) Fishery production
b By major fish species
http://www.maff.go.jp/toukei/abstract/1_9/44_45.htm

http://www.fao.org/statistics/yearbook/vol_1_1/pdf/d01.pdf
And just look at the data. I am really scared if Japanese would become greedy or obese like the anti-whaling countries.

[Chi65]

centrajapan,
Indeed. Apparently the Fisheries Agency has the matter under consideration, but has stated that the decision will be made with both domestic and international conditions taken into consideration.
Currently Japan is looking towards discussions about restoring the IWC's role as a whaling management organization, and they may be reluctant to take any measures which may make it seem as if they are insincere in their desire to work in good faith within the IWC.
However, if it is clear that the IWC can't be restored in such a manner, I imagine Japan may resume imports from Iceland and Norway as a hint towards the anti-whaling nations that it is serious.

It is in general interesting, how some relate to outdated news and scales, while already for longer, the issue of importing for example is none any more, exactly for the same reasons of found contaminations. This has already been posted somewhere else and is also far from new.

Same with the "increasing whale meat consumption", its for sure as outdated now.

Same with the other scale (from 2005!)

Wishfull thinking, I would say.

[Rose Selavey]

Wrong.
http://www.fao.org/statistics/yearbook/vol_1_1/pdf/d01.pdf
And just look at the data. I am really scared if Japanese would become greedy or obese like the anti-whaling countries.
The Japanese government in August 2006 admitted to over fishing of the Blue fin Tuna for 20 years, 3 times their quota. I have previously put a link on line for this. But if you google it there are thousands of articles relating to it.

If whale meet consumption is on the increase it is most likely due to the government pushing whale meat in schools. It has become an elitist past time for the rich, but not good enough for the Emperor Akihito to have on his Palace menu.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200610/s1765413.htm

Here is one link.

[david@tokyo]

It is in general interesting, how some relate to outdated news and scales, while already for longer, the issue of importing for example is none any more

The article I mentioned was issued on 2007/12/13, and not having any further reports on the matter since, I personally do not consider it to be "outdated news". Here's a translation of the original news item which I posted on my blog several weeks back:

Whale meat imports "waiting for Japan's response" - Norwegian ambassador to Japan hopes for recommencement after 19 years

Norway's Ambassador to Japan, Åge Grutle, made it known that his country is proceeding with negotiations with the government regarding Norway's desire for Japan to import meat from whales caught there. The Ambassador stated that "Norway wants to resume exports next year. We are waiting for Japan's response". It would be the first time since 1989 if Japan does resume whale meat trade with Norway.

Regarding whale meat imports, Japan is also considering a trade resumption with Iceland, with which the trade had continued up until 1991. There is said to be no problem with whale meat trade with respect to the Washington Treaty (CITES). Japan is also hoping to strengthen ties with nations that support whaling through the trade resumption. However, as there would be an inevitable response from western anti-whaling nations, the Fisheries Agency "wishes to carefully observe the circumstances both at home and abroad" (far seas fisheries division), and is taking a cautious approach towards making the final decision.


Same with the "increasing whale meat consumption", its for sure as outdated now.
Same with the other scale (from 2005!)

The trend of increasing levels of outgoing whale meat stock continued in 2007 (see my blog). The annual volume of outgoing whale stock was higher in 2006 and 2007 than it has been since the early 1990's.

Wishfull thinking, I would say.

Real facts and figures talk.

[Chi65]

Yep, but for example actions like ofering it to more schools and saying, buy one, take as any as you like etc., is fooling themselves and lieing into thier own pocket, plus the fact, that it was sold under "safe", when it was not, which is extremely without responsibility.

It was probably also sold in other countries, such as Africa and I don't know where, to countries, who were clearly and surely not informed either, beause it would go against the seller's interest.

While now, people do know a bit more, and will in the future, and that will surely no longer increase, in contrary, since several shops have already taken their meat away in consequence (in fact, some already before this new warning. Somewhere is an according video from lately, I think in the mercury thread), and the schools have stopped getting it (also see the entrance of the mercury thread. etc. This one here is outdated.)

I will not post in this thread anymore, because it is unnecessary doubling with new others. Please, check them instead, facts are more than enough. Times have changed.

Good night!

[david@tokyo]

The Japanese government in August 2006 admitted to over fishing of the Blue fin Tuna for 20 years, 3 times their quota.

There tends to be rather large differences between facts and what the Australian media reports on such issues, but nonetheless there were holes in Japan's regulatory system for their SBT fishery. This system was overhauled in April 2006, with strict measures such as the tagging of individual fish.
Australia meanwhile has been found to be catching SBT over it's quota, and while the Australian media doesn't report such things, you can balanced information on these matters from meeting documents at the CCSBT website.

As for whaling, Japan's position is that it would like to resume commercial whaling under international controls, not it's own independant controls. Nonetheless Japan, Norway and Iceland have already implemented DNA registers for each whale caught, and other monitoring would also be in place.

If whale meet consumption is on the increase it is most likely due to the government pushing whale meat in schools.

In fact, less than 200 tonnes a year is allocated for use in school lunches each year (160 tonnes in 2007).

On the other hand, annual outgoing stock volume has increased from approx. 4,000 ~ 5,000 tonnes in years 2001 ~ 2004, up to approx. 6,000 tonnes in 2005, and up to approx 8,000 tonnes in 2006. Final figures for 2007 will be released by the ministry next week, and will also be in the range of 7,000 ~ 8,000 tonnes.

Given the fact that these increases in annual outgoing stock volumes dwarf the <200 tonnes that is allocated to schools each year, I would suggest that it is far more plausible that whale meat consumption increases have been driven mainly in the private market.

Somewhere is an according video from lately, I think in the mercury thread), and the schools have stopped getting it (also see the entrance of the mercury thread. etc. This one here is outdated.)


Whale meat and dolphin meat is not the same.

[david@tokyo]

Whale consumption doubles - 50% increase in shipments since 2002 alone (http://david-in-tokyo.blogspot.com/2008/02/whale-consumption-doubles-50-increase.html)

The Japanese population consumed more than 8,000 tons of whale and small cetacean products in each of the previous two years, according to official statistics released Monday.

Volumes of whale meat shipped out of nationwide refrigeration facilities soared over the 8,000 ton mark for the second year running in 2007, putting annual whale consumption levels higher than any time since at least 1991 when Japan ceased whale meat imports from Iceland. Levels of outgoing volume were also 50% higher than those of 2002, with the most marked increases coming since 2005.

[MadamePapillon]

You know, all this talk of pro-whaling and I don't think you've ever given a reason why you are so strongly for it.

You've talked about why Japan should have the right to whale. How it is sustainable. Everything except why you are so eager to see whales killed and shipped off to market.

What reason do you have for defending Japans right to whale so vigorously when the better part of the modern world is against the practice?

[david@tokyo]

You know, all this talk of pro-whaling and

My comment above is hardly "pro-whaling", it simply describes the fact of increasing whale meat consumption in Japan's market.

Whether people are "anti-whaling" or "pro-whaling", everyone can surely recognise and accept evident facts as facts.

the better part of the modern world is against the practice

Whatever the "better part of the modern world" means is unclear, but I regard the arguments against whaling as irrational and full of double-standards.

What reason do you have for defending Japans right to whale so vigorously

To use an analogy, if there are a bunch of thugs beating one of your fellow humans on the street for no good reason, what would you do, and why?

Conversely, what reason do you have for so vigorously trying to convince others that nations that wish to allow their citizens to engage in the perfectly rational activity of sustainable utilization of baleen whales for food should do otherwise, given that the risks to targeted populations have been scientifically demonstrated to be incredibly low and far far lower than is accepted in pretty much any other fishery in the world? One explanation is that your analysis of the risk-reward tradeoff is irrational. This is what I sensed when we met previously in another thread, and why I came to the conclusion that our discussion had ended.

[MadamePapillon]

All those words and you still managed not to answer the question. :blush:

I wasn't asking you about my stance on the issue or my views, you already know that. I was asking about your personal views on the issue, putting aside statistics and science. You seem very emotionally invested in the killing of whales for commercial purposes (in this thread and others) and so I put to you again...

You've talked about why Japan should have the right to whale. How it is sustainable. Everything except why you are so eager to see whales killed and shipped off to market.

What reason do you have for defending Japans right to whale so vigorously when the better part of the modern world is against the practice?

[david@tokyo]

All those words and you still managed not to answer the question.

As you didn't appear to get my thug analogy, let me walk you through it: When one group of people "wages war" on another, good people who recognise the wrong will stand up with those who have been attacked.
This is why I put my hand up and try to make anti-whaling people calmly review whether their opinions are valid or not. Some people, alas, are not reasonable or rational.

You seem very emotionally invested in the killing of whales for commercial purposes

I am indeed emotionally attached to standing up for those who have been wronged and continue to be wronged, and I am proud of that.

"commercial purposes" is of little relevance here. Do the people complaining about "commercial purposes" produce all their own food without engaging in commercial activity?

I wasn't asking you about my stance on the issue or my views, you already know that.

Given your eagerness to focus on me, I admit to having become curious myself as to whether you are simply irrational in considering the risk-reward tradeoff with respect to sustainable use of wild animals, or whether you have some other motivation. But, you have made your lack of respect for others evident enough.

[Sarapva]

As you didn't appear to get my thug analogy, let me walk you through it: When one group of people "wages war" on another, good people who recognise the wrong will stand up with those who have been attacked.

I am indeed emotionally attached to standing up for those who have been wronged and continue to be wronged, and I am proud of that.

When I first read your "thug" analogy, I thought you were talking about people who were standing up to the whalers and trying to get them to stop waging war on the whales. I was confused as to which "side" you were on. Now I see you're making the analogy that we "anti-whalers" are ganging up on the "pro-whalers" - I'm slightly stunned here, not quite able to put my mind around this. I feel like I've just stepped into a Twilight Zone kind of war, not quite sure what's going on. Is this to be believed? Since when was a verbal debate the same as thugs beating someone up? I thought we were exchanging ideas here, not punches.

[Chi65]

david@tokyo:
Whale consumption doubles - 50% increase in shipments since 2002 alone

The Japanese population consumed more than 8,000 tons of whale and small cetacean products in each of the previous two years, according to official statistics released Monday.

Volumes of whale meat shipped out of nationwide refrigeration facilities soared over the 8,000 ton mark for the second year running in 2007, putting annual whale consumption levels higher than any time since at least 1991 when Japan ceased whale meat imports from Iceland. Levels of outgoing volume were also 50% higher than those of 2002, with the most marked increases coming since 2005.
According to your link:

Anyhow, the shippings say nothing about people wanting the meat, it only says, that it has been shipped. If one knows, how the meat is /was distributed in Japan itself, for schools and for relatively free on offer (buy one, take as many as you like etc.), one does also get the feeling, that if shipped, it would be very interesting to know, where to and under which conditions.
Because, if it was for such countries, who were told to support whaling and thus get cheap gifts of whale meat, for example poorer countries, the picture changes drastically.
Since the japanese government wishes the world to think, that the "other" countries came to them, while Japan already had for long built up relationships with them (nothing against helping and supporting other countries in general), you wonder about the name of the game. . .

Its a usual promotion trick, to get people involved in doing as the supporters wish.
I also wonder, if they also have to eat the rest of the contaminated meat, that was taken out of the shops. . .it would not surprise me, such things happen all the time, not just from Japan.
Smells a bit like dirty business to me.

Also, you fail to say, that while rightly the incoming one is lower than before, the outgoing one also has been lower again after 2006.
The relation to 2002 is completely irrelevant in this.

You are obviously fooling us, because now its going down again!
(while the stock piles up)

[david@tokyo]

When I first read your "thug" analogy, I thought you were talking about people who were standing up to the whalers and trying to get them to stop waging war on the whales.

Whaling is not waging war. A war is when one nation or group of people attacks another. Whaling is whale fishing or whale catching, similar to various other forms of animal hunting that humans conduct.

Since when was a verbal debate the same as thugs beating someone up? I thought we were exchanging ideas here, not punches.

Be it punches, offensive words, or hypocritical actions, that good people will support their fellow human beings when they are being wronged is constant.

[Sarapva]

Whaling is not waging war....

Be it punches, offensive words, or hypocritical actions, that good people will support their fellow human beings when they are being wronged is constant.

I don't see how the people arguing this are being wronged - aren't we just having an argument?

From the perspective of a whale being harpooned, it must feel that some kind of war is being waged against it.

[Chi65]

Sarapva, read my last post to David, please. . .!!(23)


Be it punches, offensive words, or hypocritical actions, that good people will support their fellow human beings when they are being wronged is constant.

Oh, really?
Who is wronging whom, please?

(He is gone. . .)

[david@tokyo]

Anyhow, the shippings say nothing about people wanting the meat, it only says, that it has been shipped.

It's well known that whale meat is on sale in many restaurants and supermarkets around Japan, and it goes without saying that much of this comes from frozen storage.

Also, you fail to say, that while rightly the incoming one is lower than before, the outgoing one also has been lower again after 2006.

Yes.
As you can also see, the levels of incoming stock decreased in 2007 as compared to 2006, but far more drastically than the decrease in outgoing stock.

The relation to 2002 is completely irrelevant in this.

Comparisons with 2002 figures were selected because 2002 was 5 years prior to 2007, enabling us to look for a longer term trend than just a single year (which can buck the trend).

now its going down again!

Indeed volumes went down in 2007 versus 2006, but as I noted above, single years can buck the trend. Despite going down slightly in 2007, volumes were still much higher than years other than 2006. I predict that 2008 will again see outgoing volumes exceed 8,000 tons, with shipments in the second half of 2008 likely to be especially high.

(while the stock piles up)

Average stockpile levels have increased recently due to extra supply available in the market. Without this extra supply, the increasing rate of outgoing shipments would not have been possible.

(in fact, the whale stockpile at the end of 2007 was the lowest since 2003)

[Chi65]

None of the above changes my posted words at all.
You only move around the hot pot, as we say.

[david@tokyo]

I don't see how the people arguing this are being wronged

While whalers in Greenland are permitted to catch whales (and subsequently distribute the products via supermarkets), and whalers in Alaska are permitted to catch whales (and subsequently sell whale craft products at expensive prices in hotel gift shops), whalers in other parts of the world are being denied permission to catch whales on a sustainable basis by the international organization that was established to work to ensure such people could continue to benefit forever.

So I believe that people are being wronged, and that's why I put my hand up and expose this hypocrisy (and is possibly also why the existing international organization may get the sack in the forseeable future)

From the perspective of a whale being harpooned, it must feel that some kind of war is being waged against it.

A whale being harpooned is the quickest and most efficient method of catching whales that is currently possible.
A war is when a nation or group of people attacks another.

[david@tokyo]

I suggest if people wish to continue a discussion about "who is being wronged" etc, another thread be used. This one is related to the increases in whale consumption within Japan.

[Chi65]

We had it all before, and its clear that you don't speak the truth according to thread title now, thus it belongs into this thread.

At the moment it is not increasing at all.

[gaijinalways]

="http://www.bigempire.com/sake/whale_environmentalist.html"

That was the message on Tuesday of Junko Sakuma, a freelance journalist and representative of the Dolphin & Whale Action Network, at a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan.

"The Japanese public does not have a high interest in eating whale meat," she said, citing data to indicate that stockpiles of whale meat in Japan has been steadily increasing over the past 20 years, reaching 5,000 tons in 2005.

A little different conclusion, yes?

Under the motto of cultural preservation, the Japanese government has continued "scientific whaling" - a controversial program that exploits a snag in the two-decade-old commercial whaling moratorium that allows for whales to be taken for research purposes. Later this week Japan will seek increased support at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting to lift the ban altogether.



"With the small percentage of Japanese citizens actively campaigning for whale hunting," she said, "I am almost forced to believe the Japan Fisheries Agency is creating this fictional public opinion to promote the whale hunt."

Annual per capita consumption today amounts to 30 grams, or the equivalent of one serving of sashimi. This contrasts sharply with the 2.5 kilograms eaten in the early 1980s.

The current price of red whale meat (which could be sourced from, for example, fin or Sei whales) is approximately 580 yen per 100 grams with pricier whale bacon fetching 700 yen for a mere 40 grams. In the In the last 10 years the wholesale price has been sliced in half to 1,950 yen per kilogram.

Funny, the price is going down but David claims consumption is going up?


="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,19473162-7583,00.html"

Yet traditional whaling seems to reside in that realm of mythical reality that characterises so much of what's called tradition in Japan. After all, whale consumption took off in Japan only after World War II, when US general Douglas MacArthur encouraged whale consumption to supplement Japanese protein intake. By the time of the moratorium in the 1980s, beef and other sources of protein were being consumed in the Japanese diet. So when the ban began in 1986, fewer than 1000 jobs were lost in the whaling industry.

So much for tradition.

Though there are few unbiased polls on Japanese public opinion regarding whale meat, one survey conducted by national daily newspaper The Asahi Shimbun in 2002 claimed that 4 per cent of respondents sometimes ate whale meat and 9 per cent ate it infrequently. Meanwhile, 86 per cent said they had never eaten whale or had eaten it only as children, in lunches provided by schools. These results reflect those of a similar survey conducted by the newspaper in 1993.

Popular, oh yeah.


The problem is that although whales are mammals, Japan defines whaling as a fisheries issue. The kanji character for whale is a combination of two parts, the first being the sign for fish. Nearly all kanji characters for fish names, from snapper to kingfish, are of the same two-part design. So it's no surprise that Japan's diplomatic charge at the IWC is led by the Fisheries Agency, a rather stuffy and conservative government department compared with the more elitist and outward-looking Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Fisheries Agency officials fear that if Japan backs down on whaling, it will also have to back down on other fisheries issues, such as tuna and salmon. That may sound like rampant paranoia, but history tells another story.

Ah, now we get to the meat (or blubber) of the story.

But to be fair, we add this 2001 quoted link

="http://www.icrwhale.org/02-A-5.htm"

This means that the Convention requires the utilization of meat and other by-products of the research. Japan's whale research program in the Antarctic is perfectly legal and fully consistent with these provisions of the ICRW and its rights as a signatory to this Convention.

Okay.

The issue of scientific research on whales is of vital importance to the IWC since the Convention prescribes that regulations adopted by the Commission shall be based on scientific findings. Japan's research program in the Antarctic, which began with feasibility studies in 1987/88 and 1988/89 in response to claims of uncertainty of scientific information, has 4 objectives: 1). Estimation of biological parameters to improve the stock management of the Southern Hemisphere minke whale, 2). Elucidation of the role of whales in the Antarctic marine ecosystem, 3). Elucidation of the effect of environmental changes on cetaceans and, 4). Elucidation of the stock structure of the Southern Hemisphere minke whales to improve stock management. Sampling will include the take of up to 440 minke whales from an abundant stock. The small take for research purposes does not pose any risk to the status of minke whales. More than 100 data items and samples are taken from each whale including ear plugs for age determination studies, reproductive organs for examination of maturation, reproductive cycles and reproductive rates, stomachs for analysis of food consumption and blubber thickness as a measure of condition.　

Japan's research program in the Antarctic has included participation by foreign scientists and has been the subject of extensive review by the IWC's Scientific Committee. The Scientific Committee has noted that the program has provided considerable data which could be directly relevant for management and that the results of this program have the potential to improve the management of minke whales. The Scientific Committee has also noted that non-lethal means to obtain some of this information are unlikely to be successful in the Antarctic. The meaning of this advice is unambiguous, however, it has been misrepresented in a number of resolutions adopted by the IWC's Plenary sessions. These resolutions, adopted for political reasons and without scientific basis, urge Japan to refrain from issuing special permits for taking whales. The Government of Japan has rejected these resolutions since they are an infringement on its fundamental rights as a signatory government to the 1946 Convention and because they contradict the findings of the IWC Scientific Committee which has commended both the quality and quantity of the results from this research program. Clearly, if we are to base the management of whale resources on scientific findings, as required by the ICRW, the conclusions of the Scientific Committee argue strongly for continuation of this research program.

Some disagreement within the IWC.

Much has been learned from Japan's whale research programs including valuable information related to genetic make-up, reproduction and geographical distribution and the feeding habits of whales. The research has found for example that whales are consuming 3 to 5 times the amount of marine living resources as are caught for human consumption. This is an important issue for world food security. Our research has also showed that contaminant levels in Antarctic minke whales are very low.

Hmm, wonder how that opinion has changed amid comments on mercury tainted dolphins and whales.


Japanese dietary habits which have been deeply rooted in history show that whale meat has been a protein source as ordinary everyday food but it also has been treated as a special food with regional and social significance. In the areas where whaling has been conducted traditionally, these dietary habits have become an integral part of the community such that all local ceremonies or festivities include the serving of some whale meat dishes.

The whale to the Japanese in ancient times was a kind of fish that was thought to be brave and great. Today, along with all other marine resources, whales continue to be viewed as a source of food to be used sustainably. The total protection of all whales irrespective of their stock status as promoted by some members of the IWC and some environmental and animal welfare organizations is contradictory to Japanese cultural values where whale meat is still eaten and where whales are still revered through religious ceremonies and festivals. This is particularly so for those communities where the local peoples lives have depended on whaling activities.

But if most people don't want to eat it, why don't the Japanese just allow the 'traditional areas' to hunt them?


but then I find out that the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR, 日本鯨類研究所 Nippon Geirui Kenkyūsho) is a Japanese privately owned, non-profit institution. It took over from the Whale Research Institute (founded in 1947), which grew out of the Nakabe Scientific Research Centre (founded in 1941).

="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_of_Cetacean_Research"

Sorry david, I guess propaganda is just that, propaganda.

[david@tokyo]

>> gaijinalways

Prices went down because of increases in the levels of meat being made available. Prices are set by the government so as to cover (most of) the forecast costs in the next fiscal year. Costs of research have increased (for example an additional sightings vessel has been added to the JARPA research fleet to improve precision of abundance estimates. However costs didn't increase so much as to warrant the government leaving prices unchanged.

If you consider what the reaction would have been if suddenly the research programmes were running with huge financial gains instead of losses, then it should be fairly obvious why the prices had been reduced (prices actually went up last year, because they realised they had cut them too much).

It's not correct that 2.5 kgs were eaten in the early 1980's. That figure is more like what was being consumed back in the 1960's when consumption peaked. Catch restrictions (required for conservation) had already severely reduced supply by the 1980's, prior to the moratorium.

Popular, oh yeah.

When you consider that as of 2002 there was less than 5,000 tons of meat available to be eaten in any given year it's fairly obvious why only around 10% or so Japanese people were able to eat it.

Hmm, wonder how that opinion has changed amid comments on mercury tainted dolphins and whales.

The statement you make is in response to a comment regarding "Antarctic minke whales", not "mercury tainted dolphins and whales".

But if most people don't want to eat it, why don't the Japanese just allow the 'traditional areas' to hunt them?

Firstly, do not confuse people wanting to eat it with people being able to eat it. See my previous comment about the restricted level of supply. As of January 2008, there was less than 3,000 tons of meat in stock. In 1960, 220,000 tons of meat was consumed that year. It's fairly obvious that supply is very restricted, and this is doubly obvious when you consider that there is a commercial whaling moratorium.

Secondly, the IWC has refused Japan permission to permit coastal whaling for the last 20 years. Rather than quit the organization which is supposed to be regulating such activities, Japan has remained within it and continuously tried to encourage it to do what it was set up for.