……. A WHALE AIN’T ONE…..

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE REGULATION OF WHALING(ICRW)

Our story starts here…

The convention created the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1946 with the aim to intervene in over-fishing of dolphins, whales and porpoises. This was for CONSERVATION purposes only, not for all countries to STOP whaling. This is so overlooked and minimized by non state actors that play a role in Maritime Affairs.

United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea III (UNCLOS III 1973-1982)

This version is considered the Constitution of the Sea. It took nine years and the participation of 160 countries to set up a framework that provided definitions on maritime zones.

• Territorial seas may not exceed 12 nautical miles;

•  Contiguous zone is defined as 24 nautical miles from the shore line for law enforcement including fiscal, immigration and sanitary laws

•  Exclusive Economic Zone is up to 200 nautical miles from the shoreline with purposes of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing of natural resources living or not living

UNCLOS III provides clear guidelines, definitions on protecting the maritime environment, freedom towards scientific research and exploitation of resources, navigational rights and ties in the private sector and government sector to the responsibilities and accountability of ocean laws.

It is very important to understand this part, so you can understand this move of Japan. By the way, Japan stopped commercial whaling 30 years ago.

Why did Japan leave the IWC?

IN THE NAME OF SCIENCE AND DISCOVERY

Japan is similar to many countries that capture whales for scientific purposes. What do ALL THESE COUNTRIES DO AFTER PLAYING SCIENTIST? They sell the meat. Some critics have argued that Japan uses “science and discovery” to cover up commercial whaling practices.

BUT……

JAPAN IS JUST PLAYING WITH THE new TOOLS OF DIPLOMACY

The current United States Administration has a made point to insult science and discovery by pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement. Japan pulling out of the IWC is no different from Trump.

We are talking about global concerns here not the latest struggle your state is dealing with at the moment. The state is old and unable to provide for some of the following:

• Climate Concerns

• Cybernetics

• Terrorism

• Even Health of the citizen

  
  SIDE BAR #1
  

JAPAN PROMISES THAT…..

1. Immediately stop hunting for whales in the Southern Ocean and the Northwest Pacific Ocean.

2. Japan will continue to abide by all UNCLOS laws

3. Japan will hunt for whale in their own Exclusive Economic Zone. It is the 8th largest in the world covering 200 nautical miles.

BUT WE MIGHT HAVE SOME “ISSUES” AND “CONCERNS”

• Are those whales in danger and what is the plan to make sure no over-whaling takes place?

• The following countries are part of the Exclusive Economic Zone: Russia, South Korea, Taiwan and China.

Yup!

I use to stay in Anchorage, Alaska. I was offered an opportunity to enjoy some whale meat. I am a pescetarian that also enjoys bugs and snails. Nothing like grasshoppers, crickets or snails. So this was my conversation with my father.

The Alaskan native population survive and thrive because of seal oil and whale flesh. I was having issues like everyone of color with my Vitamin D. It could be so simple……

See you next Mulday!