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Whaling: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Whaling
The earliest evidence of whaling dates back to 6000 BC, etched into the Neolithic Bangudae Petroglyphs in Korea, revealing that humans have been hunting these massive marine mammals for over eight thousand years. Archaeological records suggest that prehistoric communities in the North Atlantic and North Pacific practiced subsistence hunting, using techniques that would eventually evolve into a global industry. The Basques were the first to commercialize this practice, dominating the trade for five centuries and spreading their operations from the Basque coastal regions of Spain and France to the far corners of the North Atlantic and even the South Atlantic. By 875 AD, whaling had become an organized industry, and by the 16th century, it was the principal industry in the Basque coastal regions. These early hunters developed methods to catch whales, such as the Inuit technique of spearing a whale with a spear connected to an inflated seal bladder, which would float and exhaust the whale when diving, allowing hunters to strike again when it surfaced. This ancient practice laid the foundation for a trade that would eventually reshape global economies and ecosystems.
The Industrial Revolution
The demand for whale oil, sometimes known as train oil, spurred the development of modern whaling techniques in the 19th century, transforming it from a subsistence activity into a massive industrial enterprise. By the late 1930s, more than 50,000 whales were killed annually, driven by the need for products like margarine and later whale meat. The introduction of factory ships and explosive harpoons in the first half of the 20th century marked a turning point, allowing for the harvesting of whales on an unprecedented scale. The Soviet Union's intensive illegal whaling program from 1948 to 1973, which caught 48,477 humpback whales rather than the 2,710 it officially reported, exemplifies the scale of this industrialization. Whalers were esteemed as well-traveled adventurers, and their return to land was often celebrated elaborately, with fanfare and parades. The Soviet Union transformed from a rural economy into an industrial giant by disregarding the sustainability of a resource to fill high production targets, incentivizing managers and workers with salary bonuses of 25%-60% and various other benefits. This period saw the depletion of some whale species to near extinction, leading to the banning of whaling in many countries by 1969 and to an international cessation of whaling as an industry in the late 1980s.
The Global Ban
International cooperation on whaling regulation began in 1931 and culminated in the signing of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) in 1946, aiming to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) was set up under the ICRW to decide hunting quotas and other relevant matters based on the findings of its Scientific Committee. On the 23rd of July 1982, the IWC voted to establish a moratorium on commercial whaling of great whales beginning in the 1985, 86 season, a decision that has been highly successful, with only Iceland, Japan, and Norway still engaging in and supporting commercial hunting. The moratorium has been very successful, with only Iceland, Japan, and Norway still engaging in and supporting commercial hunting. They also support having the IWC moratorium lifted on certain whale stocks for hunting. Anti-whaling countries and environmental activists oppose lifting the ban. Under the terms of the IWC moratorium, aboriginal whaling is allowed to continue on a subsistence basis. The IWC's Scientific Committee has requested that it be allowed to give quota proposals for some whale stocks, but this has so far been refused by the Plenary Committee. The ban has led to a significant reduction in whale deaths, but the debate over sustainability, ownership, national sovereignty, cetacean intelligence, suffering during hunting, health risks, and the value of lethal sampling continues to rage.
When did the earliest evidence of whaling appear in history?
The earliest evidence of whaling dates back to 6000 BC, etched into the Neolithic Bangudae Petroglyphs in Korea. This finding reveals that humans have been hunting these massive marine mammals for over eight thousand years.
Which countries currently continue commercial whaling after the 1982 moratorium?
Only Iceland, Japan, and Norway still engage in and support commercial hunting despite the International Whaling Commission moratorium. Japan withdrew its objection in 1987 but resumed commercial hunting in its territorial waters in July 2019, while Norway registered an objection and resumed commercial whaling in 1993.
How many humpback whales did the Soviet Union catch during its illegal whaling program?
The Soviet Union caught 48,477 humpback whales during its intensive illegal whaling program from 1948 to 1973. This figure stands in stark contrast to the 2,710 humpback whales the Soviet Union officially reported catching during that period.
What specific date did the International Whaling Commission vote to establish a moratorium on commercial whaling?
On the 23rd of July 1982, the International Whaling Commission voted to establish a moratorium on commercial whaling of great whales. This decision took effect beginning in the 1985, 86 season and has led to a significant reduction in whale deaths.
How much carbon do large marine mammals hold compared to the pre-whaling era?
Scientists have determined that large marine mammals hold over 9 million less tons of carbon in the ocean than during the pre-whaling era. This depletion highlights the environmental cost of industrial whaling and the critical role whales play in the carbon cycle.
Despite the global moratorium, several countries continue to hunt whales, each with their own justification and methods. Iceland is one of a handful of countries which still host a privately owned whaling fleet, with one company concentrating on hunting fin whales, largely for export to Japan, while the only other one hunts minke whales for domestic consumption. Japan lodged an official objection to the commercial whaling moratorium in 1982 but withdrew its objection in 1987 in response to US threats to cut Japan's fishing quota in US territorial waters under the terms of the Packwood-Magnuson Amendment. Since Japan could not resume commercial whaling, it began whaling on a purported scientific-research basis, a claim disputed by Australia, Greenpeace, and other groups. Norway registered an objection to the International Whaling Commission moratorium and is thus not bound by it, with commercial whaling resuming in 1993. The Faroe Islands conduct a traditional whale hunt, known as grindadráp, which is regulated by Faroese authorities but not by the IWC, catching around 800 long-finned pilot whales each year. These exceptions highlight the tension between international conservation efforts and national sovereignty, as well as the cultural and economic importance of whaling to these communities.
The Environmental Cost
Whales play a critical role in the carbon cycle, both in life and death, yet the depletion of whale populations has had a profound impact on global ecosystems. Scientists have determined that large marine mammals hold over 9 million less tons of carbon in the ocean than during the pre-whaling era, highlighting the environmental cost of industrial whaling. Living whales cycle carbon and nitrogen throughout the water column via whale feces, contributing to primary productivity at the surface, while their carcasses can become part of a whale fall, sinking to the bottom and bringing their carbon with them to help form a temporary ecosystem at the ocean floor. Noise pollution from large ships and boats, which falls into the same frequency range of many whales, threatens the existence of cetaceans, and bycatch kills more animals than hunting. The World Wide Fund for Nature says that 90% of all northern right whales killed by human activities are from ship collisions, calling for restrictions on the movement of shipping in certain areas. Despite rebounding whale numbers after the international ban on whaling, climate change and rising carbon levels continue to hinder the amount of carbon sequestered by whales, underscoring the need for continued conservation efforts.
The Health and Cultural Debate
The consumption of whale meat raises significant health concerns, as whales are long-lived predators whose tissues build up concentrations of methylmercury from their prey, reaching levels that are hazardous to humans who consume too much too often. High levels of mercury have been found in the Caribbean, the Faroe Islands, and Japan, where people are advised not to exceed one serving every three weeks. The debate over whaling also involves cultural and ethical considerations, with some communities viewing whaling as a traditional practice that must be preserved, while others see it as an outdated and cruel industry. The Makah tribe in Washington state reinstated whaling in 1999, despite protests from animal rights groups, seeking to resume whaling of the gray whale, a right recognized in the Treaty of Neah Bay. The controversy extends to the value of lethal sampling to establish catch quotas, the value of controlling whales' impact on fish stocks, and the rapidly approaching extinction of a few whale species. The debate is further complicated by the fact that some countries, such as the Philippines, have banned whaling, while others, like South Korea, have loopholes that allow fishermen to keep any bycatch, including whales, which can be very lucrative.
The Future of Whaling
The future of whaling remains uncertain, with ongoing debates over sustainability, national sovereignty, and the role of whales in global ecosystems. Japan announced in 2018 that it would withdraw its membership from the IWC, resuming commercial hunting within its territorial waters and its 200-mile exclusive economic zones starting in July 2019, but ceasing whaling activities in the Antarctic Ocean, the northwest Pacific Ocean, and the Australian Whale Sanctuary. Iceland rejoined the IWC in 2002 with a reservation to the moratorium, resuming commercial whaling in 2006, though it did not hunt any whales in 2019, and demand for whale meat decreased in that year. The IWC's Scientific Committee has requested that it be allowed to give quota proposals for some whale stocks, but this has so far been refused by the Plenary Committee. The debate continues to rage, with anti-whaling countries and environmental activists opposing lifting the ban, while pro-whaling countries argue for sustainable hunting. The future of whaling will depend on the ability of the international community to balance conservation efforts with the cultural and economic needs of whaling communities, as well as the scientific understanding of whale populations and their role in global ecosystems.