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Difference between revisions of "Whaling"
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The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary was established in 1994 covering an area of 50 million square kilometers surrounding the continent of [[Antarctica]] where the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has banned all types of commercial whaling. | The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary was established in 1994 covering an area of 50 million square kilometers surrounding the continent of [[Antarctica]] where the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has banned all types of commercial whaling. | ||
Despite this ban and the international outcry that has resulted, Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) has continued to hunt whales inside the Sanctuary by claiming their slaughter of whales (including endangered whales) is an approved scientific activity. Japan has taken the position that while some whale species it harvests are threatened, many are not. | Despite this ban and the international outcry that has resulted, Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) has continued to hunt whales inside the Sanctuary by claiming their slaughter of whales (including endangered whales) is an approved scientific activity. Japan has taken the position that while some whale species it harvests are threatened, many are not. | ||
[[File:Whale sanctuaries.png|thumb|center|Map of global whale sanctuaries]] | |||
Some conservation groups such as the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society claim Japan's whaling operations are conducted in violation of the IWC charter, arguing that Japan's self-imposed annual quota of 1000 whale kills for research is not really scientific activity, but rather a veil to cover commercial fishing operations as whale meat ends up being sold in Japanese markets. | Some conservation groups such as the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society claim Japan's whaling operations are conducted in violation of the IWC charter, arguing that Japan's self-imposed annual quota of 1000 whale kills for research is not really scientific activity, but rather a veil to cover commercial fishing operations as whale meat ends up being sold in Japanese markets. | ||