Whaling is the controversial hunting of whales and dolphins. Many species of whales are endangered which creates a great debate over the industry. In the 19th century whaling was popular as the demand for whale oil and meat was high. Today whale oil is not in demand so commercial whaling exists to supply whale meat. The International Whaling Commission was founded December 1946 to promote and maintain whale fishery stocks and the prices for whale products. IWC is now the primary organization for the protection of all whales. In 1986 a five year moratorium on commercial whaling was enacted and is still in effect. Japan objected to the moratorium, but soon after stopped commercial whaling and began a scientific whaling program called JARPA in 1987. There are many world wide organizations that argue against whaling citing whale intelligence and the brutality and killing of pregnant females and calves. Anti-whaling groups protest by placing themselves between the whaling ships and the whales to block the harpoons and follow the fleet to record what happens.
Anti-Whaling Groups
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Dates back to 6000 BC
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Oldest written mention of whaling is in the [http
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kojiki Kojiki] in seventh century
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Fact:
Of the 13 great whale species five are endangered
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Fact:
Nantucket, Massachusetts was 19th century world whaling capital
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[http
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Whaling_Commission International Whaling Commission] founded in 1946
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Fact:
Only IWC members are subject to IWC mandates
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Fact:
1986 commercial whaling moratorium is still in effect today
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[http
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_whale Right whales], humpbacks, gray whales, and blue whales are beginning to show signs of recovery.
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[http
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit Inuit]s are allowed regulated tribal hunts of whale
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Fact:
Japan considers whaling scientific research
