The inclusion of the fin and sei whales. That's probably why.
Agreed, from that article:
"The three pro-whaling nations say that, while endangered species should be protected, other whales such as the minke are now numerous and hunting should be allowed under strict control."
So why are they planning to kill more of the endangered species than of the minke?
People aren't about to become extinct (and I'd like to know which countries hunt them so that I can avoid going there!), but any mistake made now in controlling whaling will be irreversible and future generations will never forgive us.
You're spot on Alpine... many people who would be horrified by whaling will eat fish until the fisheries complely collapse, with complete disregard.
There are the animals people do not want to see hunted, because of concerns over the conservation of the species...
And then, there are the animals that we give preferential treatment above most others, that people feel some particular fondness for.
most whales fit both of these descriptions, so people get very sensitive about killing them.
For most people who are not from Iceland, Norway, or Japan, we would like to see more conclusive data on whale numbers before we didn't complain about whaling. The problem is, you can't get a conclusive census on whales... so the debate will just go on.
Icelanders don´t expect the world to understand this, in fact it was on the news the other day how surprised officials here in Iceland were because there was much less protest than they had anticipated.
We are a fishing nation, no doubt about that. Many fisherman have expressed great concern over the ever decreasing numbers of cod and increasing number of whales here around Iceland. You wouldn´t belive how much fish the whales eat and because they are growing stronger in numbers they are upsetting the fragile eco-system of the sea here.
I realize that if humans would not fish the eco system wouldn´t be in danger because mother nature takes care of itself. But there has been so much fishing here (not just by us Icelanders) and the cod population fluctuates wildly and is in general pretty low. So the increasing number of whales are upsetting the already man-made fragile population of cod. This is indeed a lose-lose situation.
I do not belive that the world has to be concerned about us overfishing the whales. Icelanders are amongs the leaders in the world in controlling how much fish is caught so we are not going to let that happen.
Still nobody has answered my question. Why go after the endagered species?
Originally posted by Alpine99:
The same could be said of some fish.. but we carry on regardless.
Once the stocks get too low it won't be profitable any more. The species will live on in 'unprofitable numbers'. Unfortunately the last whale will still be profitable, so it's not the same.
Originally posted by hortopth:
many people who would be horrified by whaling will eat fish until the fisheries complely collapse, with complete disregard.
You can only eat what is available. "There is a lot of demand" is no excuse for catching every possible fish you can. It is up to the fisheries to control the fish stocks, not the consumer.
I'm not "horrified" by whaling. I just want to know why the endagered species must be hunted more than the well populated species - a point that everyone is carefully avoiding.
HI Anna ,you disappeared,now I 'm being criticized for hanging on DPC too long!
Those things are poop monsters1
LOL I haven't disappeared, just haven't been here as much, besides you know where my mailbox is just let me know I am being missed I will reappear.
LOL I know they are poop monsters I have it all over my front porch. Wish someone would get rid of the pigeon house next door!!! Or at least make the pigeons pay rent for living in the vacant house!
Why is the rest of the world crazy over this?
- we do not hunt people like some others...
Just want you opininon...
v. - a tiny boy.
Calculation is simple,if they have one baby per year and you guys hunt two of them,their number will drop 33 % per year!
Do some pigeon hunting for change!
Humans are stupid. They take huge numbers of any kind of fish from the sea and then complain because there aren't enough fish left for a fishing industry.
They kill endangered species because they don't care about them. All they want to do is make a buck.
Many fisherman have expressed great concern over the ever decreasing numbers of cod and increasing number of whales here around Iceland. You wouldn´t belive how much fish the whales eat and because they are growing stronger in numbers they are upsetting the fragile eco-system of the sea here.
If there is not enough cod around iceland to feed the whales the whales will die or have to go and find their cod somewhere else. This is how eco-systems worked even before whale were hunted by fisherman.
This reminds me of the elephant problem in the Krugerpark since some years they have more elephants than the park can support. There were talks about killing elephants, even while they are on the list of endangered species. A better solution is found by connecting the kruger park to other parks in mozambique and zimbabwe where there is food enough.
I don't know if most of the whale population lives around iceland, but I think that if you start killing whales in one place you are doing much more harm to the eco-system.
If the number of cod is decreasing it would be wise to stop fishing for cod and look for alternatives. Or start investing in aquaculture sytems (they think they can breed cod in 2004).
Humans are stupid. They take huge numbers of any kind of fish from the sea and then complain because there aren't enough fish left for a fishing industry.
They kill endangered species because they don't care about them. All they want to do is make a buck.
Remember the dodo.
Maybe better to remember the Moa and the Passenger Pigeon, which were made extinct in historical times strictly because of human predation.
I think the other big issue for many anti-whaling people is that they consider whales to be sentient, intelligent, self-aware beings, and as such should not be subject to hunting. Most(?) people don't think a cod has "feelings," but don't think we should hunt primates or cetaceans.
And yet, I just read about a current proposal for a "resort" where "big-game hunters" will pursue human prey ... (c.f. the commonly anthologized story "The Most Dangerous Game")
Cod are being "farmed" now, but apparently by capturing and penning adolecent wild fish, not raising them from eggs, so they are actually harming the wild population MORE than if they were to harvest the same yield of wild fish.
Cod are being "farmed" now, but apparently by capturing and penning adolecent wild fish, not raising them from eggs, so they are actually harming the wild population MORE than if they were to harvest the same yield of wild fish.
From what I have read they hope to be able to farm cod in a closed system by 2004.
I met a guy who build this fishfarms, it seems you can place them almost anywhere, he was hoping to sell some fishfarms in Africa.
for you that think We are going to hunt endangered species of whales over here I have to tell you You are dead wrong .....
But I have to ask how this topic ended up here in DPChallenge for crying out loud?
Tell the wwf : "WWF today condemned Iceland's proposal for the resumption of whaling on three species of large whales, including Northern minkes and endangered fin and sei whales."
for you that think We are going to hunt endangered species of whales over here I have to tell you You are dead wrong .....
But I have to ask how this topic ended up here in DPChallenge for crying out loud?
Tell the wwf : "WWF today condemned Iceland's proposal for the resumption of whaling on three species of large whales, including Northern minkes and endangered fin and sei whales."
