Last week I was made aware of the conflict regarding whaling between Japan, and others, and the rest of the international community opposed to the practice. This is a serious problem, and it becomes immediately clear that neither side is entirely devoted to the conservation of these animals in the strict sense.
After decades of unregulated whaling, the International Whaling Commission was formed in 1946 as a “Global body charged with the conservation of whales and the management of whaling”. (IWC, n.d.) After an extensive political campaign, led largely by the United States, the IWC imposed a moratorium in 1982 due to concerns over the sustainability of whaling The moratorium made cultural exception for aboriginal subsistence whaling and provisions for scientific research, which the number of whales allowed to be taken to be decided scientifically. The IWC has been criticized for ignoring the suggestions of the Science Committee concerning it’s administration on numerous occasions. (Morishita, 2006)
Japan claims a right to a cultural exception on account of it’s long history of whaling, and posits that the ban places an undue burden on its fishing villages. Because the
…show more content…
Step Four: Identify the Root Cause(s)
• What is the real reason the problem occurred?
• It is my opinion that the ultimate cause of the conflict is a difference in culture. As the 20th century developed, some of the the other countries with a history of whaling ceased their activities, except for aboriginal subsistence whaling, voluntarily when the resources provided by whaling became unimportant. It is further becomes evident that culture is a main point of the dispute when arguments against whaling are reviewed. Were the conflict a matter of policy, a compromise could have been established.
Step Five: Recommend and Implement Solutions
• What can you do to prevent the problem from happening