Whaling: Controversy and Questions

In 1986, Japan withdrew its opposition to the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling. The following year, Japan announced a large-scale scientific whaling program designed to assess whale stocks. Their goal? A resumption of commercial whaling with set, sustainable limits.

Many experts have questioned the scientific validity of this program, suggesting that Japan's research is nothing more than a front for continued whaling.

Japan maintains that its methods are sound.

Japan's scienfitic whaling program continues to this day; in fact, it has grown considerably. Activist groups like the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society claim that Japan's whaling practices violate international law. Japan claims the direct-action tactics of Sea Shepherd are illegal, in essence a form of eco-terrorism.

The issues surrounding whaling are complicated and highly controversial. To help our viewers educate themselves about these issues, we present answers to the following frequently asked questions about whaling.

Why do the Japanese hunt whales?

Why is there opposition to whaling?

What led Japan to withdraw its opposition to the whaling moratorium?

What does the International Whaling Commission (IWC) actually do?

How and when did the anti-whaling movement begin?

What led Paul Watson to found the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society?

By what authority can the IWC declare a moratorium on whaling?

By what authority is Japan allowed to conduct scientific whaling?

What is the nature of Japan's scientific whaling program? What do they hope to achieve?