To whale or not to whale, that is the question

• Main Author: Vanderhaven, Beth
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: University of Canterbury 2014
• Subjects: Southern Ocean
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10092/13872

Scientific whaling in the Southern Ocean has been a topical issue through scientific, political, economic, cultural and ethical aspects. Scientific whaling began after the International Whaling Commission (IWC) announced the moratorium on commercial whaling. Many of the main objections and campaigns against the Japanese scientific whaling in the Southern Ocean are related to the Japanese agenda behind their research. This critical review evaluates the four main aspects and their evidence towards the Japanese agenda. There is no significant scientific certainty that the agenda for the Japanese scientific whaling is one to eventually re-establish commercial whaling. Future research is needed to be undertaken by concerned nations to solidify the research being produced and allow management decisions to be made with greater knowledge and evidence.