Fishy decision
at a time when the International Whaling Commission ( iwc ) is set to hold its 53rd meeting in London from July 24-27, 2001, Japan has allowed its fisherfolk to sell meat of whales caught mistakenly in fishing nets from July 2001. Till now the scope of legal sale of whale meat was confined only to those that die after being caught in fishing nets and the ones that are caught during whaling for research purposes. "Most of the whales caught alive die when the fisherfolk try to free them. Therefore, we have formulated the new legislation,' said an official at the country's fisheries agency.
Prior to selling the meat, the fisherfolk will be under a legal binding to get the whales' dna registered. "By permitting the sales after dna registry, we can strengthen check ups on illegal hunting,' claims one official. By conducting such registrations, the government would know from the dna whether the meat sold is registered or not. Those found guilty of not getting the registration done would be liable to pay a penalty of us $4,100 or could be sentenced for up to six months.
According to the Japanese government, its scientific whaling programme indicates that whales consume more fish than human beings. Hence, more whaling could protect fish stocks. "In the forthcoming iwc meeting, Japan hopes to use the results of its programme to convince the member nations to vote for resuming whaling to help protect fish stocks,' says Joji Morishita of the country's fisheries agency. In 1986, Japan stopped commercial whaling in compliance with an international moratorium. However, it began its whaling research programme a year later and argues it is permitted by iwc rules (see, Down To Earth , Vol 10, No 2, June 15, 2001, p14).
Environmentalists, however, allege that whaling done in the name of research is actually for commercial purposes. The Japanese Whaling Association, a non-governmental organisation, reports that an estimated 2,500 tonnes of whale meat was consumed in Japan during December 1999 to November 2000. The us government, in September 2000, suspended Japan's access to fishing rights in its waters. This was done in the wake of Japan including bryde and sperm whales in its research programme.