Consulate-General of Japan in New York
在ニューヨーク日本国総領事館

Q2. Why does Japan conduct research on whales in the Pacific Ocean?

Answer:

1. Better understanding of the feeding ecology and ecosystem is important to assume proper management of Japanese marine resources.
    
2. Last March, FAO, a UN organization, decided that its Committee on Fisheries would conduct research on the correlation between marine mammals and fisheries. This decision is one proof of our belief that we have international support of our research program on the study of prey consumption of whales.
    
3. Much attention has been paid to Japan's capturing of whales. However, it should be noted that Japan is encouraging sighting surveys in the Sea of Okhotsk, West Pacific Ocean, and other sea regions. In addition, Japan contributes greatly to the IWC's Southern Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research (SOWER) team by providing whaling research vessels and crews free of charge and also contributes by sending research scientists on sighting surveys.
    
4. This research will be conducted based on the regulations set forth by the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (Article 8, Section 1). IWC Scientific Committee has given high evaluation of our research results.  

Q3. What are the effects of these research programs on the marine resources?

Answer:

• It is estimated that there are 25,000 minke whales, 22,000 Bryde's whales, 102,000 sperm whales, and 28,000 sei whales in the North Pacific Ocean. The whale research program will not have a considerable effect on the marine resources.  

Q4. Wouldn't it be possible to conduct a non-lethal research to achieve your goal?

Answer:

1. Other than catching whales, Japan also encourages research programs of non-lethal methods. However, the sighting survey only provides us with the names of the species and estimated population of whales. The biopsy sampling survey, which allows us to use a small portion of skin of live whales for analysis, does not provide us with enough information. Research cannot be effective without the use of non-lethal methods.
    
2.  Japan is open to scientific and constructive opinions from specialists of other countries and would like to include their ideas into its programs. For example, as has been advised by the IWC at its annual Shimonoseki meeting, Japan would like to further methods using its sighting survey, satellite, mark and tags, and feces.  

Q5. Why have the sei whales been included in the research this time?

Answer:

• Over the past few years, studies have been found that the population of sei whale has increased greatly according to preliminary sighting survey (102herds, 147whales). It is estimated that there are 28,000 sei whales in the north Pacific, which makes these species the largest biomass (42,000 tons) among Baleen whales in the area. Therefore, it is essential to conduct research on their prey consumption, as well as to create a model to properly manage all marine resources.  

Q6. Isn't it a violation of the moratoruim to sell whale meat after completion of the research?

Answer:

• Article 8, Section 2 of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling indicates that "whales caught with permission should be processed and the proceeds should be dealt with in accordance with directions issued by the government by which the permit was granted." We follow this regulation and properly process the by-products of our research.