Japan's Whaling Fleet Returns Home in Shame

I don't hold with the whale hunts but SSCS is an organization of thugs akin to ELF. Both groups should be prosecuted as terrorists.

A great article that says it like it is. Well done.

No doubt the ICR and Glen Inwood hacks will be onto this in droves spouting their hate filled agendas.

The Japanese are lying pigs. As far as Sea Shepard no else in this world is trying to stop them.

The difference between terriosts and this group is one is trying to take lives and the other is trying to save lives.

What a pack of lies and a shameful excuse of a news article.

"Every year, under the disguise that it is conducting a genuine scientific program, Japan sends out its whaling ships to kill over 1,000 whales in the Southern Ocean, south of Australia."

First of all, the research IS genuine. Over the years, they have released hundred of papers with important data on cetaceans. Japan does nonlethal research as well as lethal ones. Are you pointing out that the data is fake? If so, I hope you can provide proof of it.
Secondly, their quota is 850, NOT over 1000. Please, do your own research first before posting some bullshit numbers you imagined up.

Even if the Japanese are doing genuine research, no one cares what it is. I would rather have 850 whales alive today than know what they are eating. Hell, I would rather have 5 whales alive than know what they are eating, so how about the japanese just stop. Even if the article was inaccurate it doesn't matter because the killing of hundreds of creature for our own curiosity is shameful.

dude shut up

This is the 21 st century and if you think eating whale is a good thing you're ignorant! I think we need to boycott Japan in any way possible! Last week they said the black rhino was officially extinct... We are all connected and if we don' t stop this stupidity we will be next. Ask yourself one question...if you want to learn about an animal why would you kill over 800 of them a year and make a profit of a couple hundred million doing it? Not in the name of research but in the name of the almighty dollar!

The quota hasn't been 850+ for at least a couple of years. The ICR never released hundreds of papers, only a few dozens at most, and the vast majority of them could have been done without killing whales. Important data, you say? How is it then that Australia can conduct its own research, just as valuable, if not more so, than Japan's without harming the animals? I did not say that the data is fake, I imagine that they were peer-reviewed before publishing. I just said that they did not provide any groundbreaking new insight into whales, so as to justify the enormous numbers they kill abusively and illegally each year. I am sorry you refuse to see the truth, but maybe you should be the one digging around the web a little more.

You need to look at the definition of a loophole. Use of a loophole means you are doing something legally that wasn't the intent of the law. So if they are using a loophole it is still legal. But the article in the regulations that allows for research whaling is written with very plain language and specifically states that any member may issue permits for research whaling, with any meat being processed for sale. The Japanese whaling is completely and totally legal and within the regulations of the International Whaling Commission.

The anti-whaling members of the International Whaling Commission held a large enough majority from the early 80's through at least the mid 90's that they could have passed changes to the research whaling regulations and plugged the "loophole". Japan started using the research whaling provision in 1986 so the anti-whalers had plenty of opportunity to act to fix the situation if they really felt there was a problem. But they didn't even try and change the regulations.

The SSCS press release is great for them and their continuing effort to get more donations but it is not so good for whales in general. The Japanese hunt almost exclusively non-endangered whales. Any unmet demand for whale meat in Japan will be filled with imports from Iceland and Norway who hunt a large percentage of endangered whales. So as a whole very few if any whales were saved and more endangered whales will be killed for saving a few non-endangered whales.

Hey Whaler...

Is this the research you're referring to?

http://blogs.laweekly.com/ladaily/city-news/whale-sushi-from-japan/

You know, maybe they have just never released much in the way of their research in English, but I've searched the net frequently for copies of the Japanese Cetacean research and haven't found much of anything. So, as a layman, let me ask this of those of you who support Japans position. What do you honestly think can be learned by killing upwards of 1000 whales a year? Where else do we kill thousands of a particular species yearly, just to study how it is doing?

As a final thought for those who don't think this is purely about profit, DNA testing of the whale meat seized from the Los Angeles restaurant, "The Hump" was found to be from stocks taken in Japans "scientific" hunt. I have a suggestion to make this whole argument a moot point. Change the law so that the Japanese are not allowed to "exploit" any whale taken for scientific purposes. That is to say, once they have taken measurements, samples, etc, they must then dump the carcass back into the ocean. Lets see how long they keep traveling thousands of miles every year with a fleet of ships when they can no longer profit from their killing.

I agree with Chris. If they want to do testing then release the carcass back out to sea. I'll bet they wont take very many after that!

50 Humpback whales were on the kill list this year....and yes, they are still on the endangered list. What a stupid statement...."The Japanese hunt almost exclusively non-endangered whales". You sir, are a complete idiot!

No, jvh, this is the research I was referring to.

http://www.icrwhale.org/JARPApaper.htm
http://www.icrwhale.org/JARPNSCpaper.htm
http://www.icrwhale.org/JARPA91paper.htm
http://www.icrwhale.org/JARPNpaper.htm

And chris if you couldn't find any of this then you either didn't search very well or don't know how to search. You also apparently don't understand statistics. Based on the estimated Minke whale population a sample size of around 800 is required for good statistically valid results. And they aren't just studying "how it is doing".

I agree if people are really so upset with this then they should change the laws. Japan has been research whaling for over 20 years and for at least the first 10 years of that time the anti-whaling nations had a greater than 75% majority on the International Whaling Commission, meaning they could have changed the laws. But they didn't, they didn't even propose a change.

And finally Tom, yes their initial quota, which is not a kill list, did include 50 humpbacks. But before they even started the season they said they were not taking any humpbacks and guess what they didn't. So if I say I might kill an endangered animal but I don't then how many endangered animals did I kill? I believe the answer is ZERO.

You also seem to have an English comprehension problem. As you quoted what was said was "...ALMOST exclusively non-endangered whales." The word almost is kind of important. It means that they do take some endangered whales. And guess what? By the IWC regulations it is perfectly legal for them to take endangered whales. You are an ignorant idiot. The sir doesn't seem applicable in your case.

"No, jvh, this is the research I was referring to.
http://www.icrwhale.org"

Oh yeah....REAL credible research by the idiots that write icrwhale.org on their ship so big - if it's written on the ship its true, right?

just how muchof the whale is used for studies and how much for EATING and COMMERICAL PURPOSES...taking a square inch of skin doesn't make it reasonable for research to kill a whale!

so DanP - how much money do you get from them killing whales?

Let's think a minute. ICR does the reserach so where would YOU go to look for the research that they do? Did you even go and look at the websites? They list the papers title, authors, and when and where it was published. So even you could check on any one of them to see that it actually exists and was published, you don't even have to believe the ICR.

I don't know what percentage is used for what purpose. You seem so worried about it why don't you read the research and figure it out for yourself.

I don't get anything from them killing whales. Oh except that next time I am in Japan I will eat whale at every meal, take pictures and video and up load it to YouTube so you can enjoy it.

The fact the anti-whaling forces are a cover for their sponsor Australia to divert potential attn. to the massive, wholesale destruction of Australia's native flora and fauna.

Australia as a continent was blessed with the most incredible one of kind creatures, but to the Australian farmers and ranchers they are just pests, vermin to be exterminated, and the Australian Govt. gives them a free hand to do so.

Of course they make sure all the publicity is focused on their truly minimal (vs a vs the wholesale destruction) efforts to save the last of their native animals and of course supporting the activists.

China has over a billion people and they still have pandas.

India has over a billion people and you can still find a tiger or two.

Australia has a about 1 PERCENT of either nation's population and there are NO Tazmanian Tigers are left.

Koala's were almost exterminated by the fur trade as well as Platypuses.

Only fur falling out of fashion saved them.

The # of marsupials on the edge of extinction continues to grow.

Most will disappear from this planet without any notice, and the Australian anti-whaling forces share the blame.

Instead of focusing all their attn. on Japan, they could split their efforts and take on the marsupial killing fields of Australia.

For all the extinctions Australia's tiny tiny national population is guilty of, they are the absolute last people on Earth who have anything to teach Japan regarding saving animals.

If the Japanese had conviction they'd match Australia's hypocritical anti-whaling crews by sending their own activists to actively and violently interfere with "animal management" strategies, demand the international wildlife organizations take on Australia and its lackadaisical efforts to save its own endangered animals.

Australia gets away with it in large part thanks to their high profile anti-whaling efforts, and the lamebrain activists think that means Australia is a animal friendly place.

It is if you're a dog or cat, but not if you are native animal from that Continent, and nothing makes that more clear than the Dingo fence - if you don't know what it is google it. This anti-wildlife abomination could only be built in Australia, and it still is there doing its job.





- a huge nation with one of the most incredible flora and fauna that Australia's very small population has been able to devastate without a second thought.

No doubt they have no second thoughts because the outrage that they should direct at themselves for slaughtering marsupials in the millions, driving many into extinction was because they were pests, and to many an outback Aussie they still are.

Johhnymo, while I agree with your criticisms of Australia's abysmal record I disagree with, and am insulted by your conclusion: " For all the extinctions Australia's tiny tiny national population is guilty of, they are the absolute last people on Earth who have anything to teach Japan regarding saving animals."

You seem to assume that we Australians are complacent about our native animals. Not true. You assume that we are so stupid/lazy that we cannot spare the energy to care about outside issues, like opposing Japanese whalers. Absolutely not true. And you assume that we simply do not care enought to be anything other than hypocritical when we show that we care about native (or other) animals' welfare. Completely untrue.

Like many others I know, I am a wildlife carer, rescuing and rehabilitating
native fauna at my own expense. Like so many others, I care enough to find the time and energy to oppose our Govvernment's support of the kangaroo 'industry', as well as abuses on intensive farms. Like so many others I agitate to save what is left of the planet's other wonderful creatures, like the whales that are so exploited by the Japanese, Iceland and Norway.

We Australians are ashamed of what this and previous Governments have done to our native fauna. However it is rather difficult to change their minds! But at least our Government is challenging Japan on its disguised commercial whaling. Which is far more than any other country has done. Where is the US on this - they who were responsible for the huge slaughters last century, and who developed Japan's post-war whaling industry!

If the US supported Australia's legal challenge against the Japanese whaling industry it would have a greater chance of success.

But I won't hold my breath.

Intersesting info johnnymo. I had never heard of the dingo fence. The dingo is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. just one step short of endangered. Yet Australia considers them pests to be erradicated.

Something you may be interested in is the feral cat population in Australia. Many were released to try and control rabbits, which had also been brought to the Continent by settlers. Now the cats are a problem. This link gives a short discussion but a search will quickly find more info.

http://www.convictcreations.com/animals/feralcat.htm

Any one with half a brain can figure out that the japanese are killing whales for profit and not for research. Why else would they spend millions to study the whales.
I suppose they're killing dolphins for research too.

Yes thats Exactly what they are doing selling them for profit and being A** Holes

I like the idea of killing 1 japanese sailor for every 1 whale they kill.

We allow this to happen to an intelligent, society oriented creature and the best we can come up with is 1 org that will stand up to the most vile group of people to ever exist on this planet. Don't give me the 'great' culture argument either. I've lived in Japan and I found the Chinese and Koreans to be culturally more significant. I am a US citizen, and I will start calling my elected reps tomorrow to inquire what it will take to change their views on a complete ban on whaling.

GreenPeace get your a$$es back to the southern ocean and help out.

Why can't everybody think like youLove your article! Let's keep the faith No more Save our whales, goodluck

Sounds like a fair trade to me!

JARPA/JARPA II research results
The JARPA∗ was conducted during the austral summer seasons from 1987/88 to 2004/05. The JARPA had four main objectives: a) estimation of biological parameters to improve the stock management of the Southern Hemisphere minke whale; b) elucidate the role of whales in the Antarctic marine ecosystem; c) elucidation of the effect of environmental change on cetaceans; and d) elucidation of the stock structure of Southern Hemisphere minke whales to improve management.

The outcome of JARPA is that we now know more about the status of whale stocks and whale biology than at any time in history and this knowledge continues to increase each year.

Following a mid-term review in 1997, the most recent JARPA review by the IWC's Scientific Committee in December 2006 concluded that:

"the dataset provides a valuable resource to allow investigation of some aspects of the role of whales within the marine ecosystem and that this has the potential to make an important conntribution to the Scientific Committee's work in this regard as well as the work of other relevant bodies such as the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources" and,

"the results from the research program have the potential to improve management of minke whales in the Southern Hemisphere"
Based on the results of JARPA, in 2005 Japan began a new and expanded program called JARPA II.

JARPA II started with two feasibility surveys in the austral summer seasons of 2005/06 and 2006/07. The first full survey started in the 2007/08 season. The objectives of the JARPA II are the following: a) monitoring the Antarctic ecosystem (whale abundance trends and biological parameters; krill abundance and the feeding ecology of whales; effects of contaminants on cetaceans; cetacean habitat); b) modeling competition among whale species and future management objectives (constructing a model of competition among whale species; new management objectives including the restoration of the cetacean ecosystem); c) elucidation of temporal and spatial changes in stock structure; and d) improving the management procedure for Antarctic minke whale stocks.



Okay... if this is the research they are going after, how does killing whales fit in?

By monitoring the Antarctic ecosystem... you're WATCHING. NOT killing.

Modeling competition among whales species.. you're still WATCHING. Usually to make a model, you collect live numbers, not dead ones. Especially if the whole purpose of doing a model in the first place is to RESTORE the whale ecosystem.

Elucidating (making clear) changes in stock structure? You're not helping by killing the stock.

Again, not really sure how killing a perfectly good whale is going to help you figure out how to manage its population.

Am I reading something wrong??

It's really awesome to know that Australia is threatening to take the Japanese whalers to international courts! I've always supported the Sea Shepherds, and am glad that their actions will no longer be necessary!

Hopefully though, it will turn out that by the time I'm old enough, I won't have to worry about whaling and go be a Sea Sheperd.

How Old Are You?

Im glad that the Sea shepard is preventing these stupid japenese people who have nothing better to do but kill whales. Research my butt thats like killing a poor doggie and saying oh its research no thats psyco and onje day japan will get wgat they deserve. If something ever happened to the point that Japan needed or help id make sure all the people i know wouldnt help them because of what they do.

You Japs deserve everything you get, i hope some day you guys sink in the ocean that way those Whales can eat you so you see how it feels!!!!

I fully support anti-whaling groups like Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace, but I absolutely condemn generalizations and slurs. Good for you for realizing whaling is wrong, but please do not blame all the Japanese people and wish death upon them. A lot of Japanese people, such as a good friend of mine, do not even know that people still eat whale meat. Blame the company killing the whales, not the nation where it built headquarters.

I completely agree with Sea Shepherd what the Japanese are doing is wrong and HATEFUL TO WHALES

go sea shepards their not terrorists do just doing it for a good cause

I have followed this issue closely since the International Whaling Commission passed its ban on commercial whaling. I have read what The Institute of Cetacean Research has posted on their website concerning what they have been researching, and what they plan to research over the next six years. I am not a marine biologist, however I find what they are claiming to be researching hard to believe since they do not tag and track any live whales to monitor migrations and other behavioral patterns from year to year.

Agreed. how do you conduct research on migrations etc, by killing them?

there is something so wrong about the Japanese killing an endangered species like the whales. The only reason being their disgusting desire for whale meat. They are not fooling anyone with their supposed "RESEARCH" signs. We all know the barbaric practices of the Japanese for killing whales and slaughtering dolphins. Just like their belief that bear parts and tiger balls will help their virility. They need to get with the times and if they can't perform they should try some viagra!!! The rest of the world is disgusted with their barbaric practices. Other countries need to get involved and stop their illegal whaling!! What a disgusting lying selfish speices the japanese are. They shoild be ashamed of these practices, however it is obvious they have no human emotions!!!! Hopefully some day they will be held accountable for their actions!! ronna

The JAP Whaling community are nothing but a bunch of CRIMINALS.

WAY TO GO Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) , KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.

please refrain from racial slurs in the future

I hope they all crash into each other and ss and japanese all drown. Two birds one stone effect!

In more recent times I'm thinking that if anything good came of the horror inflicted on Japan's east coast it would be that their whaling fleet sustained a fatal * .
Whether this is true or not I don't know but I can say with a clear conscience.... I hope so for the sake of the whales.

After years of depleting the various whale populations of the oceans the Japanese are now
crying for help when they are the victims of the ocean by way of a tsunami.
The Japanese government have condoned the illegal harvest of whales for years despite the
international treaties they agreed to.
Make them scrap the fleet they say they need for scientific research or use it to catch fish
to feed the general population not a few wealthy gourmets who eat the illegal whale meat.
While that is being done they should make sure that they use approved fishing methods, not
the way they longline for tuna.
None of my pension pennies will go to assist these pirates.

I am very glad that they returned home in shame. Shame is a word that they do not know. How can they kill, in such a barberic matter, these whales not to mention dogs as well, for eating. I am sure that they can eat something that has more nutritional value to it than dog/whale meat. How barberic are they? I would never visit your country and wherever I go I will talk about your awful ways. Disgusting!!!!!!!!

http://www.whaleroute.com/migrate/

I so agree with you drew. What they do is just plain EVIL!!!!!!!!

Yes this is bad! And then you stand there and do nothing? How about give me the job of captain. I will mount some 50 cals and a 3 inch gun see how many whales they kill. You may be doing something but if I was in charge they would not get 1 whale on my watch....................

It is useless trying to talk to whalers, they will never understand that killing whales is wrong. they would kill every whale on earth ( and almost did) if they get the chance. Everybody knows that they are doing it for money. Most research of any kind does not make money. In fact, the people who carry out research are always begging for money. I would suggest that it would be hard to find any other so called research that is making 132 million dollars a year on any other animal. These people have been killing whales and other animals for centuries and they are not going to stop now. We should be directing our anger at the IWC, that lets this go on day in and day out. Why is the U.S. standing for this? We support Japan with millions of dollars a year. We should tell them to "Stop Whaling" or no more money and support!!! We need to put pressure on our leaders, so they will put pressure on the IWC. The Japanese are not the only nation that are killing their animals, but to say, (others are doing it so it is ok for me to do it) is just plain * !! The whales suffer horrible deaths and it is a terrible thing no matter, for what reason you are doing it. It has been said "a nation is judged on how it treats his animals" so let Japan be judged.

The japanese are disgusting, evil Eco-terrorists that have no respect for the whales. They should be banned once and for all. Research my * . KILLERS that's what they are.

evil deeds a crime against nature and the murder of God's creatures.

sea shepard should sink the nushin marru before i join them and do it my self

I think what y'all are doing is wrong, the whales can not fight for themselves so the SEA SHEPHERD stepped up to do it for the whales! Y'all are killing whales for your own benefits, the only thing y'all are thinking about is the money! And it is disgusting eating whales all of you need help just remember god will remember all of the whales you killed when it is you standing at his gate wanting in!

I watch whale wars every season. I am very happy that Japan finally went home. If more people looked after helpless animals the world would be a better place.

So glad there are still people standing up for what is right. This is what has to be done in order to stop the ocean from becoming a desolate land scape. Those that are opposed clearly have no idea what is really happening on the sea, sharks and whales are being virtually wiped out. Reading stories like this make me feel that there really is a chance for nature to survive.
Thanks to the men and women who are truly making a change in this world, not destroying it for greed and ignorance.

We are watching the whale wars and I think people all over the world need to see this and boycott Japan in any way possible. This is the 21 st century eating whales is sickening. After last weeks extinction of the black rhino we all need to wake up and realize ...we are all connected and every loss will push us, as humans to extinction! So if you read this do not support Japan in any way! We need a worldwide boycott

japanese are filthy liars why need so many whales for research way over kill,,,seashepard and all them are my heros,,,I say sink their ships and if the whalers die ohwell whales lose there famliy members let the japanese lose theirs thats how i see it

I think the whalers need to go shoot themselves in the fuckin head....they need to be killed and ripped the * apart... * THEM ALL

Whales should be protected. I fully support Greenpeace for trying to stop the unnecessary slaughter of these beautiful creatures. Thank God we have the likes of Paul Watson and his team for dedicating their time and lives to prevent the slaughter. The Japanese are nothing short of being Pirates and I hope they are stopped for good very soon. We are seasoned travellers however no way will I give Japan my money in tourism. In fact, I am a travel agent and will not sell Japan.

Who are acting terroristic??? I say the Japanese Whaling fleet is; and their government is helping them. They lie and say this is for scientific research. Unfortunely all they care about is money. I applaud the Sea Shepherd crew for taken on these bullies of the sea!!! All the countries that are stealing whales out of the ocean should be given a multi billion dollar fine!! Whales are beautiful, majestic mammals and are intelligent. Humans should not be aloud to 'lord it' over other animals-- they are playing at god. It just gets to me that they are too ignorant to see the're wrong!! Keep up the good work 'SSCS'!!!

Go get them, thank god for the Sea Shepards, now lets all stand together and STOP these murders, make a stand against this cruel disgraceful act it's NOT human, let your children be proud of what we can save for our generations to enjoy! I would love to harpoon the Japanese crew to see if they like it..... I bet they would stop, xx love your work Sea Shepards
Anybody that agrees with the Japanese must of had. Very sad a d distrubed childhood

agreed. maybe we should pray for a huge wave to wash over the island, and take all the japs liars out to sea, and maybe the whales will get a good feed on then. But then again, the whales may very well gets sick on 'little dirty liar yellow meat'.

the thing is, The Japanese are liars. As mentioned in the above article, they are simply taking advantage of a loophole. You see, the little yellow bastards have a very long history of lying. It's a game to them! Ask anyone in Washington DC on December 6th 1941 what the Japs were telling them, and of course, the * fleet had been enroute to our peaceful Pearl Harbor for weeks prior, with the express intent of destroying our naval fleet, and killing as many innocent US sailors and citizens as possible. IMO, Japan needs to fess up, and ask the world for forgiveness. or get nuked......again. I hate the little yellow bastards. I am tickled whenever they have huge earthquakes or worse. As far as I am concerned, every single one of them can choke on that whale meat. No loss to humanity.

The Japanese have a history of being deceptive, thank god for the tidal wave, natures way of flushing the toilet, let the fish feed on those washed out to sea!

Jason from Texas. The japanese have been hunting wales since the 12 th centry. Who has the right to tell them they have to stop. I think the japanese should consider the actions of the sea sheaperds an act of pirarcy. The Japanese should * them out of the water and I would volunteer the first shot.