Whaling has been an integral part of certain cultures for centuries, but the practice remains controversial due to its impact on already fragile whale populations. If you’re looking for a quick answer, Japan is currently the country that harvests the most whales each year through scientific whaling programs, followed by Norway and Iceland.
Overview of Whaling Practices by Country
Commercial Whaling Bans and Exceptions
In 1986, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) issued a moratorium on commercial whaling due to declining whale populations. However, a few countries continue to hunt whales commercially by filing objections or reservations to the moratorium:
- Norway hunts minke whales commercially and processes around 500-600 whales annually.
- Iceland left the IWC in 1992 but rejoined in 2002 with a reservation to the moratorium, allowing it to resume commercial whaling. It now hunts around 200 fin and minke whales each year.
- Japan exploits a loophole in the moratorium allowing whaling for scientific research. However, the whale meat from its “research programs” in the Southern Ocean and North Pacific still ends up sold commercially.
These three countries account for over 90% of the world’s continuing commercial whaling. Conservation groups like WWF and IFAW have criticized them for undermining international efforts to protect whale populations.
Scientific Whaling Allowances
In addition to the commercial whaling conducted by Norway, Iceland, and Japan, several other countries participate in whaling under scientific research permits issued by the IWC. This includes:
- South Korea – In 2022, South Korea announced plans to resume scientific whaling, targeting minke and other whale species. This decision was controversial given the country’s role in hosting the IWC.
- Russia – Hunts around 100 gray whales annually in the North Pacific in the name of science.
- United States – Grants Alaskan natives aboriginal subsistence whaling quotas, which allows them to hunt 50 bowhead whales per year.
While these scientific and aboriginal hunts are intended to be small-scale and sustainable, conservation groups argue more should be done to transition communities away from whaling entirely. With multiple populations still endangered or threatened from past overhunting, the ultimate goal should be whale conservation globally.
Japan’s Whale Hunts
Whaling History and Cultural Significance
Whaling has a long history in Japanese culture dating back to the 12th century. Many coastal communities have depended on whales for centuries as a valuable source of meat and other products. According to a 2017 report, over 200,000 whales were caught by Japanese fishermen between the 1830s and the mid 1980s, when commercial whaling was banned internationally.
In modern times, whale meat became an important source of protein after World War II due to widespread food shortages. As a result, whales carry symbolic importance in Japan as a cultural tradition and vital part of rebuilding the country’s food system after the devastations of war.
While consumption has declined dramatically in recent decades, support for whaling remains strong amongst certain political and nationalist groups who see it as upholding Japanese cultural identity against foreign pressures to end whaling.
Current Whale Catch Numbers and Quotas
According to statistics from the International Whaling Commission (IWC), Japan has caught between 200-1,200 whales per year since 1987, including minke, Bryde’s and sei whales. They continue whaling today under a disputed “scientific research” loophole in the global moratorium on commercial whaling.
Their current Antarctic catch quota allows for up to 333 minke whales per season, which conservation groups criticize as an excuse for commercial whaling under a scientific label.
While actual catches vary year-by-year, official reported numbers indicate Japan has caught over 14,300 whales since the IWC global moratorium on commercial whaling was established in 1986. Catches peaked in 2005-2006 with over 1,200 whales killed per season but declined under international pressure in subsequent years. They argue these hunts provide data on sustainable use of whale stocks, but critics counter that non-lethal research alternatives exist and that whale meat from these scientific programs still ends up sold commercially in Japanese seafood markets.
Norway’s Whaling Program
Fight Over Whaling Moratorium
Norway has been engaged in an ongoing fight with anti-whaling countries and organizations over its decision to continue commercial whaling despite the 1986 global moratorium imposed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
Norway officially objected to the moratorium and is thus not bound by it. It established its own catch limits for minke whales.
This has led to harsh criticism from many countries and environmental groups who accuse Norway of undermining international efforts to protect whales. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society called Norway’s whaling operations “cruel and unnecessary”.
The United States threatened trade sanctions in the 1990s, though it eventually backed down. The IWC has passed several resolutions calling on Norway to halt commercial whaling, but Norway continues to ignore them.
Norway argues it is whaling in a sustainable, responsible manner and that minke whale stocks are plentiful enough to support limited hunts. It accuses the IWC of abandoning its original purpose of managing whaling in favor of a strict preservationist agenda.
Norway also points out it has the right to objection under the original terms of the IWC’s whaling convention.
Whale Catches and Future Quotas
In recent years, Norway has set annual self-imposed catch limits of 999 minke whales in the Northeast Atlantic. Actual catches have fluctuated from year to year based on demand. In 2021, Norwegian whalers killed 575 minke whales, down from 636 the previous year.
Catches in the last decade have averaged around 500 whales annually.
For 2022, Norway has raised its minke whale quota to 1,277. This is the highest quota Norway has set since 1993. The government claims such an increase is justified because of the growing minke whale population and stable demand for whale meat.
However, the decision has already been denounced by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation and other groups who plan to pressure Norway politically and through public awareness campaigns. They argue that industrial whaling is inherently cruel and that minke whales face new threats like climate change and ocean noise pollution.
The battle over Norway’s whaling program seems certain to continue. While Norway shows no signs of ending whaling, pressure from anti-whaling groups and governments could affect public opinion and the level of future whale catches.
Much depends on the future direction of the IWC and international efforts to protect whales.
Iceland Resumes Commercial Whaling
Past Whaling Tradition
Iceland has a long history of whale hunting dating back to the 9th century when Norse settlers primarily targeted northern right and gray whales for subsistence. By the early 20th century, large commercial whaling operations developed to export whale oil and baleen, decimating local whale populations.
Iceland halted commercial whaling in 1989 in response to declining catch rates and international calls for conservation. However, limited hunts for scientific research and domestic consumption continued.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Iceland significantly ramped up scientific whaling, prompting accusations of using research as a cover for commercial purposes. Controversial hunts targeted endangered fin whales and exceeded sustainable quotas recommended by the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
Despite international criticism, Iceland consistently maintained whale meat was a cherished part of its food culture and that abundant minke and fin whale stocks could support limited sustainable harvests.
Minke Whale Catches and Controversy
In 2003, Iceland resumed commercial minke whaling in its exclusive economic zone after withdrawing from the IWC’s global moratorium on commercial whaling. Annual catches initially targeted around 200 minke whales under a self-imposed quota system but soon increased up to over 200 whales by 2009.
Catches declined in the early 2010s but began rising again by 2015 (see table).
Year | Minke Whales Caught |
---|---|
2006 | 39 |
2009 | 125 |
2012 | 46 |
2015 | 155 |
2019 | 146 |
Iceland’s ongoing commercial whaling continues to spark controversy both domestically and abroad. Critics argue Iceland’s scientific data does not support sustainable catches and warn further expansions in whaling could negatively impact whale-watching tourism, an important growth industry for the country.
Pro-whaling advocates maintain catch methods are humane and that whale meat is a cherished domestic food source that reduces the need for imported meat (NY Times).
As one of only three nations actively engaged in commercial whaling, along with Norway and Japan, Iceland continues to face scrutiny over its commitment to international conservation efforts. Yet with stable minke stocks in the North Atlantic and strong domestic support for whaling within its remote coastal communities, Iceland looks poised to keep promoting sustainable management of marine mammals.
Conclusion
In recent years, Japan has consistently killed over 200 whales annually and has faced pressure to end scientific whaling programs that many consider commercial whaling under a different name. Norway and Iceland also continue limited whale hunts, igniting further debate around sustainable quotas and the future of whaling.