While the environmentalists all over the world are pressurizing for the protection of endangered species, Greenland bids to raise its annual wale hunt quota with 10 humpback whales. The argument behind this proposal is that it’s a need of survival for the aboriginal population of the country. But in the recent meeting held in Santiago, member nations at the annual International Whaling Commission voted against of this proposal.
In 1986, a moratorium on commercial whaling was introduced, but it was violated very soon. Whale-hunt in large scale continues to exist in Japan, Norway and Iceland. Japan is not at all ready to stop it for sure. Because the issue seems to be a never ending debate between Japan and Australia.
Greenland should not be allowed to catch more of whales, as it already has an IWC quota to catch a specific, yet large number of whales. This quota includes 212 minke whales, 19 fin whales and 2 bowhead whales per year. But the country states that it’s much less than the requirement. Food crisis is a major problem in the world, so the quota should be increased for the sake of aboriginals. Greenland is determined to raise voice for the quota increase again in the next year.
The reason for raising whale-hunt quota presented by the country is not justified enough, for the whale-meats are sold in the supermarkets also. Thus calling it a need for aboriginals is just a medium to draw votes. Moreover, Humpback whales are considered as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
For the time being, it’s clear that the Humpback whales are safe. But Greenland’s decision to push the proposal again would not let us feel relieved. On one hand, food crisis is not a silly matter, but dealing with the problem at the expense of killing innocent creatures also does not seem justified. So what to do? Wait and watch till the next year.
Source: msnbc.msn