seen, Japan, Iceland and others have lodged reservations to the listing of whale
species on CITES Appendix I and trade in these products is therefore legal between
these countries (Sect. 4.2.1), this might not prevent other countries and NGOs to
increase their campaigns to label, for instance, Japanese and Icelandic whale meat
trade as illegal. Whether, in the long run, this would ultimately lead to a similar
situation of deadlock in CITES as in the IWC remains to be seen.
9.3
Scenario 2: The Moratorium Is Lifted, the Revised
Management Scheme Put in Place
In the second scenario we look at the possibility of the Revised Management Scheme
being put in place. This would effectively mean that the moratorium on commercial
whaling is lifted. While under current circumstances this scenario is highly unlikely,
it is still worth considering. The reason is that in recent years, the IWC has seen an
increasing discourse on food security. While at the time of writing no official
resolution has been adopted, in light of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
that see Zero Hunger as their second goal,
1 it appears that irrespective of the
commercial aspects of whaling, whales may also start to be considered as a legitimate food source by the international community. In essence, this is already occurring on the level of Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling, yet has thus far failed to enter
the wider discourse on food security.
If—or even when—the world, due to climate change or other environmental
disasters, is going to experience increasing food shortages, it appears almost inevitable that increasing attention would be shifted towards all living resources roaming
the oceans. This might particularly affect African and Caribbean nations, especially
since decreasing fish stocks in the Atlantic might force governments to consider
other food sources, for instance whales. If that might happen, also the debate on
whether or not the moratorium on commercial whaling is still justifiable and whether
a lift might be reasonable will open up again. It is almost certain that developed
states, such as the US, EU member states or Australia and New Zealand would still
vehemently oppose such proposal. After all, it is these countries that have thus far
opposed the opening of a strategic discourse on food security within the IWC.
Notwithstanding, if also these countries were to finally recognise whales as a
legitimate food source, attention would in all likelihood be turned to the Revised
Management Scheme (RMS) and very careful, precautionary modes of whale
management. With the implementation of the RMS, the zero catch quota of the
Schedule would be lifted and limited, strictly science-based commercial whaling
would resume. Once again, we must consider whether the term ‘commercial’ would
be adequate in this context. While due to their size and high seas habitats whales
naturally require financial efforts that can only be carried by large companies, it
would be fair to assume that a resumption of whaling for food would not lead to new
1 United Nations (Undated).
9.3 Scenario 2: The Moratorium Is Lifted, the Revised Management Scheme Put in Place 191
species on CITES Appendix I and trade in these products is therefore legal between
these countries (Sect. 4.2.1), this might not prevent other countries and NGOs to
increase their campaigns to label, for instance, Japanese and Icelandic whale meat
trade as illegal. Whether, in the long run, this would ultimately lead to a similar
situation of deadlock in CITES as in the IWC remains to be seen.
9.3
Scenario 2: The Moratorium Is Lifted, the Revised
Management Scheme Put in Place
In the second scenario we look at the possibility of the Revised Management Scheme
being put in place. This would effectively mean that the moratorium on commercial
whaling is lifted. While under current circumstances this scenario is highly unlikely,
it is still worth considering. The reason is that in recent years, the IWC has seen an
increasing discourse on food security. While at the time of writing no official
resolution has been adopted, in light of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
that see Zero Hunger as their second goal,
1 it appears that irrespective of the
commercial aspects of whaling, whales may also start to be considered as a legitimate food source by the international community. In essence, this is already occurring on the level of Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling, yet has thus far failed to enter
the wider discourse on food security.
If—or even when—the world, due to climate change or other environmental
disasters, is going to experience increasing food shortages, it appears almost inevitable that increasing attention would be shifted towards all living resources roaming
the oceans. This might particularly affect African and Caribbean nations, especially
since decreasing fish stocks in the Atlantic might force governments to consider
other food sources, for instance whales. If that might happen, also the debate on
whether or not the moratorium on commercial whaling is still justifiable and whether
a lift might be reasonable will open up again. It is almost certain that developed
states, such as the US, EU member states or Australia and New Zealand would still
vehemently oppose such proposal. After all, it is these countries that have thus far
opposed the opening of a strategic discourse on food security within the IWC.
Notwithstanding, if also these countries were to finally recognise whales as a
legitimate food source, attention would in all likelihood be turned to the Revised
Management Scheme (RMS) and very careful, precautionary modes of whale
management. With the implementation of the RMS, the zero catch quota of the
Schedule would be lifted and limited, strictly science-based commercial whaling
would resume. Once again, we must consider whether the term ‘commercial’ would
be adequate in this context. While due to their size and high seas habitats whales
naturally require financial efforts that can only be carried by large companies, it
would be fair to assume that a resumption of whaling for food would not lead to new
1 United Nations (Undated).
9.3 Scenario 2: The Moratorium Is Lifted, the Revised Management Scheme Put in Place 191