When the Norwegian Svend Føyn developed the explosive harpoon in the early
second half of the nineteenth century, commercial whaling all over the world was
transformed radically. While already many species such as the right whale had been
heavily depleted, other species which had been more difficult to hunt were also
decimated in pelagic sealing. Modern technology and the high yields meant that in
Newfoundland shore-whaling stations were established. Yet with declining
populations and the moratorium of 1982 (after which Canada left the IWC), whaling
in Newfoundland declined and has not been relaunched.
While in Atlantic Canada is still the place for large-scale sealing, international
campaigns have led to severely declining international markets for seal products.
The closure of the markets in the European Union sent a ripple effect throughout the
world (see Sect. 6.6). However, those seal processing facilities still operating now
provide products for markets in Asia as well as in Canada domestically.
3.2.4 Japan
Next to the Canadian commercial seal hunt, Japanese whaling is probably the most
well-known marine mammal hunt in the world. Japan’s position within the IWC as
an avid pro-whaling nation and ultimately its withdrawal from the organisation have
placed Japan into the centre of international opposition. Japan’s whaling has oftentimes been labelled as outdated, obsolete, without cultural or social backing and so
forth. However, in the IWC, the Japanese government has repeatedly tried to place
whaling in Japan within a discourse on culture and cultural need. The failed attempts
to obtain recognition of Small-Type Coastal Whaling (STCW) as a new category
similar to Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling within the IWC are but one example for
Japan’s tenacity on the role of whaling in Japan.
Leaving aside any emotional responses to the contemporary whaling issue, it is
clear that along the coasts of Japan, whaling has for many centuries played an
important role for local communities. While coastal whaling is restricted to merely
a handful of small communities, in the past, whales were an important contributor to
food security all over the country. While that is so, in a fascinating study, Mayumi
Itoh has shown that whales have also elements in cultural activities: mourning
ceremonies for whales were held since they were seen gods of the sea due to their
appearance and their contributions to local economies and food security.
10 For
example, Shinto shrines celebrating the god of fishermen and luck, Ebisu (恵比
須), also were used to celebrate dead whales that were washed ashore as
manifestations of Ebisu. The Nishinomiya Shrine (西宮神社) in Hyōgo Prefecture,
for instance, is one of the primary shrines for the celebration of Ebisu.
In Taiji, where the dolphin drive takes place, every year, the Taiji Whale Festival
(太地浦くじら祭) celebrates both the contributions of the whale as well as
depicting the struggle between a large whale and small whaling boats. Wakayama
10 Itoh (2018).
46
3 Marine Mammals and Humans
second half of the nineteenth century, commercial whaling all over the world was
transformed radically. While already many species such as the right whale had been
heavily depleted, other species which had been more difficult to hunt were also
decimated in pelagic sealing. Modern technology and the high yields meant that in
Newfoundland shore-whaling stations were established. Yet with declining
populations and the moratorium of 1982 (after which Canada left the IWC), whaling
in Newfoundland declined and has not been relaunched.
While in Atlantic Canada is still the place for large-scale sealing, international
campaigns have led to severely declining international markets for seal products.
The closure of the markets in the European Union sent a ripple effect throughout the
world (see Sect. 6.6). However, those seal processing facilities still operating now
provide products for markets in Asia as well as in Canada domestically.
3.2.4 Japan
Next to the Canadian commercial seal hunt, Japanese whaling is probably the most
well-known marine mammal hunt in the world. Japan’s position within the IWC as
an avid pro-whaling nation and ultimately its withdrawal from the organisation have
placed Japan into the centre of international opposition. Japan’s whaling has oftentimes been labelled as outdated, obsolete, without cultural or social backing and so
forth. However, in the IWC, the Japanese government has repeatedly tried to place
whaling in Japan within a discourse on culture and cultural need. The failed attempts
to obtain recognition of Small-Type Coastal Whaling (STCW) as a new category
similar to Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling within the IWC are but one example for
Japan’s tenacity on the role of whaling in Japan.
Leaving aside any emotional responses to the contemporary whaling issue, it is
clear that along the coasts of Japan, whaling has for many centuries played an
important role for local communities. While coastal whaling is restricted to merely
a handful of small communities, in the past, whales were an important contributor to
food security all over the country. While that is so, in a fascinating study, Mayumi
Itoh has shown that whales have also elements in cultural activities: mourning
ceremonies for whales were held since they were seen gods of the sea due to their
appearance and their contributions to local economies and food security.
10 For
example, Shinto shrines celebrating the god of fishermen and luck, Ebisu (恵比
須), also were used to celebrate dead whales that were washed ashore as
manifestations of Ebisu. The Nishinomiya Shrine (西宮神社) in Hyōgo Prefecture,
for instance, is one of the primary shrines for the celebration of Ebisu.
In Taiji, where the dolphin drive takes place, every year, the Taiji Whale Festival
(太地浦くじら祭) celebrates both the contributions of the whale as well as
depicting the struggle between a large whale and small whaling boats. Wakayama
10 Itoh (2018).
46
3 Marine Mammals and Humans