Humpback whales a target

Download the full PDF Green Times Spring 2007 edition here.

This summer Japanese whalers will be back in the Southern Ocean carrying out a wholesale slaughter of whales under the guise of science. But for the first time since commercial whaling stopped they will also be targeting humpback whales alongside minke and fin whales.

Humpback whales are frequent visitors to the coastal waters of New Zealand. In autumn they can often be seen along the east coast and in spring along the west coast as they return from feeding in the Southern Ocean to their breeding area north of New Zealand. Humpback populations are only just beginning to recover from the exploitation of 200-odd years of commercial whaling, which is estimated to have wiped out 90 percent of some populations.

The Green Party, along with the government and NGOs, will once again be working to try and put an end to this needless slaughter. Last year there was an early halt to the whaling programme because of a fire on one of the whaling ships, but this year's season is set to go ahead full-steam. The Japanese Government's whaling organisation, the Institute of Cetacean Research, says that the 'full-scale' JARPA II programme in the Antarctic will, this summer, target up to 850 minke, 50 humpback and 50 fin whales.

Earlier this year the International Whaling Commission soundly condemned Japan's continuing lethal research in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. The Commission had reviewed the results of Japan's first 'research' programme, known as JARPA I, and found it thoroughly wanting. It specifically stated that none of the JARPA I objectives had been met. It also noted 'concern' that fin whales in the Southern Hemisphere are classified as endangered, and that humpback whales being targetted in the JARPA II research area may include individuals from depleted breeding populations from Pacific Island waters.

The condemnation and concern from the IWC, however, can not stop Japan from continuing its whaling programme in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. One way to stop the Japanese whaling programme is for the New Zealand community to join with the Japanese community in supporting their own calls for an end to this slaughter. The Japanese government has ignored pleas from the international community, but will find it much harder to ignore calls from its own people. However, it is very difficult for those Japanese opposed to whaling to have their voices heard, as very few of the Japanese media will print anti-whaling stories.

The Greens will spend this summer supporting the non-violent direct action taken by groups such as Greenpeace who have brought the horror of commercial whaling to the public. We will also continue to support the Government's attempts at diplomatic action but continue to call for greater levels of monitoring by New Zealand ships and aircraft.