Due to excessive whaling, many species of whale are near extinction Essay Example

of whale has been a vital part of Japanese culture. They question whether any nation can dictate what another should eat. To the Japanese, seafood is an essential element of their diet, including whale meat as a protein source. Westerners are the only ones who consider whales to be special. If the global ban on whaling is removed, then numerous job openings will be available. Seafood is a lucrative industry in Japan, as evidenced by a recent sale of Blue Fin tuna for $300,000. The whaling sector employs many Japanese individuals who would otherwise be unemployed.

Whale meat is typically sold at high prices, with tail meat reaching up to $950.00 per kilo and regular whale meat selling for up to $240.00 per kilo. The utilization of all parts of the whale is common practice, repurposing unsold parts for cosmetics, animal feed, fertilizer, and more. However, overfishing poses a global threat to whale populations - are they worth sacrificing for the benefit of wealthy and hungry Japanese consumers? Some argue that killing whales could level out ecosystems as they consume excessive amounts of food, but where is the evidence supporting this claim? Ultimately, pride and victory in whaling seem to be the main drivers behind Japanese whaling practices. The argument that whales consume too much appears unsubstantiated.

Upon encountering an article positing that whales could potentially dominate the world and vie with humans for sustenance, my interest was piqued as to the veracity of such a notion. However, it transpires that numerous prominent whale species - including Fin whales - abstain from consuming commercially significant types of fruit like tuna, and do not actively compete with them

for nourishment. The majority of baleen whales discovered in the South Pacific are filter feeders lacking teeth; this group encompasses Blue, southern right, humpback and minke whales who typically subsist on plankton and Antarctic krill. Additionally, they frequently fast during migration periods or whilst inhabiting breeding grounds.

Certain whale species such as sperm, Bryde's, and minke consume a limited amount of fish and squid types that are not utilized commercially. The majority of large whales feed in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary within Antarctic waters. These whales journey to the warmer climates of the South Pacific in order to reproduce, nurture and breed their offspring, during which they abstain from consuming food as they travel to these warmer regions.

When whales return to the Southern Ocean, their body condition is significantly reduced, which prompted whalers to prefer catching them during their northward migration or feeding grounds rather than their southward migration. Unfortunately, the Australian humpback and southern right whales are still significantly depleted and are the only populations in the South Pacific to show any growth in the past decade. These species feed exclusively in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters. According to the IWC's scientific committee in June 2000, population estimates for the most abundant species, the Southern Hemisphere Minke Whale, were significantly lower than previous estimates.

Despite the importance of whales, limited information on other populations makes it difficult to estimate their numbers accurately. It is crucial to avoid spreading unfounded rumors about these creatures, such as the false claim that they eat too much. The evidence indicates that they do not. Sadly, whales across the globe are in danger and face extinction due to being hunted.

However, the way in which they are killed is even more concerning - their organs are shattered by iron fragments from harpoon heads, causing a gruesome death. Although this method of killing is horrific, it can be argued that it is not inhumane if death occurs instantaneously.

Whaling inflicts prolonged suffering on animals that are not killed instantly. The injuries can last for three to seven minutes until a killer harpoon is used to end their agony. Various methods have been employed over the years, including electrical and carbon dioxide harpoons, compressed gas (air) harpoons, drugs, and high-velocity projectiles. In 1996, researchers studied the time to death of 218 whales captured during the 1995 Norwegian Commercial Minke whale hunt: "..."

According to the data, 62% of the whales showed no signs of life within 10 seconds after being shot. The upper quartile survival time was 240 seconds. On average, it took about 204 seconds for all signs of life to cease after the shot. While only 11% of animals displayed evidence of continued living beyond ten minutes, four percent were observed exhibiting vital signs for over fifteen minutes. The longest recorded time until death was forty-three minutes and twenty seconds.

The extended time it took for some whales to perish suggests that they were not subjected to humane killing methods, which should result in instant insensitivity towards pain, stress, or suffering until death. Any surviving creatures managed to flee after a quarter of an hour and were subsequently shot again. To avoid undue agony, all animals ought to be dispatched using humane means.

Whales deserve to freely roam the oceans and live their majestic lives in accordance with Mother

Nature's wishes. Japan has no need to hunt whales for survival, as whale meat is a luxury item that only the wealthy can afford. Hence, there is no valid reason for killing these magnificent creatures.

Ensuring the survival of whales is pivotal in upholding a thriving ecosystem. The barbaric, savage, and callous act of slaughtering these creatures is both unfeeling and merciless. I am certain that hunting, killing, and eating whales are entirely superfluous based on my research. A more humane approach to Japan's perception of whale meat as a crucial resource would involve breeding whales exclusively for consumption. One worthwhile endeavor would be promoting the creation of the Southern Pacific Sanctuary to allow vulnerable species such as Right Whales and endangered Blue Whales sufficient time to augment their populations.

The southern ocean is a vital location for whales as it serves as their breeding and nurturing grounds before migration. It is crucial to safeguard them from illegal hunting and ensure their security in the area. The presence of a thriving whale population will enable future generations, including my offspring, to witness the splendor of these creatures playing in the sea. To prevent further avoidable species loss, we should enforce a ban on commercial whaling (including scientific whaling) and establish a sanctuary promptly. Taking action now is crucial before it's too late.