A Japanese fleet has instructions to kill 50 humpbacks - and 1,000 whales total - under the shroud of 'scientific whaling'.
Why should we care? Well it's estimated that there are about 10,000 humpbacks coursing about the planet now... low numbers considering we had 240,000 in the North Atlantic pre-whaling.
Ever notice how the actual term 'science' often appears in titles where the group may... say... be engaged in activities requiring public justification?
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According to BBC news, a Japanese fleet has instructions to kill 1,000 whales, including 50 humpbacks, which have been spared from hunting since the 1960s. A 2003 study in Science estimated there used to 240,000 humpbacks in the North Atlantic pre-whaling. Now there are 10,000. Can anyone help…
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I became aware of this calamity that Japan seems bent on pursuing earlier in the week. Hopefully, with great public and political pressure, they will come to their senses. Or it will come back to haunt them...
I gave $200 to Sea Shepherd this morning.
On a strictly utilitarian assessment:
If Humpbacks get scared, then whalewatching will be reduced in value
If East Australian WWatching of 2000 whales is worth $200 Million and a whale lives for 50 years, then each whale is worth $5 million dollars.
Thanks to all for your continued efforts toward our planet.
Does anybody know if any peer-reviewed publications come out of this 'scientific' whaling?