Official newsletter of the WCW
#5 February 1999
Greenpeace Vultures Attack Crippled Research Vessel
Norwegian Minke Whale Quota: Tiny Increase for 1999
Whale Stew (A Recipe from Neah Bay)
Japanese / Nuu chah nulth Cultural Exchange
Greenpeace Vultures Attack Crippled Research Vessel
From Tele-Press Associates for the Japan Whaling Association
December 8, 1998: Japan's whale research vessels Nisshin Maru and Kyo Maru #1, after fighting fire and rough seas in South Pacific waters for nine days before reaching port in Noumea, New Caledonia, were attacked Monday by publicity-hungry Greenpeace activists. Using the occasion for a fund-raising photo op, the Greenpeace zealots posed and preened for the cameras, then harassed the exhausted crews from speed boats and tried to disable the vessels' propellers with chains.
The Nisshin Maru was crippled when a fire broke out below decks on November 19. It took the crews of the Nisshin Maru and Kyo Maru #1 six days to extinguish the blaze, which caused extensive damage to the operating and control systems.
One seaman died aboard the burning ship. Unable to make headway under its own power, the Nisshin Maru had to be towed to Noumea by a tug boat.
"Greenpeace swooped down on our crippled vessel like a flock of vultures, completely disregarding the helpless condition of the vessel and the strain put on our struggle-weary crew. It was a callous and mean-spirited act of vandalism by a group that has rarely distinguished itself over concern for people," said Mr.Takehiro Takayama, president of Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha, the owner of the vessels.
The Nisshin Maru, the Kyo Maru #1, and three other vessels were en route to the Antarctic to conduct research on minke whales under contract to the Japanese government and the Institute of Cetacean Research when the fire broke out. The cause is still unknown. "The research is essential to determining the status, population dynamics, stock composition, and ecology of minke whales, fast-reproducing species numbering over 750,000 in the Antarctic," according to Dr. Seiji Ohsumi, Executive Director of the Institute of Cetacean Research in Tokyo.
The research, authorized under Article VIII of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, was highly praised by the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission . Its report on the research program stated: "the program has already made a major contribution to understanding of certain biological parameters" and "when finished should result in an improve understanding of the status of minke whales in these Areas."
"Greenpeace, one of the most profitable of the protest industry conglomerates, annually makes over $100 million by fostering the cult of the whale," said Mr. Takayama. "That's more money than was ever made by whaling. Their greatest fear is that research will show conclusively that most whales are not in danger of extinction, have no more intelligence than other animals and can be used sustainably for food without risk of depletion. Then they'll no longer be able to milk their great aquatic cash cow.
"Greenpeace tries to discredit our research and mislead the public by falsely claiming that the sale of whale parts not needed for research is evidence that the research is just a form of commercial whaling. What they don't reveal is the fact that the minke whale population is so big and that the 400 taken annually for research has no adverse affect on the population. Nor do they reveal that the IWC Scientific Committee highly values the results of our research, that the IWC requires all parts not needed for research be utilized and not wasted, and that the proceeds from the sale of whale meat and parts go to pay the costs of the research. That's rather dishonest of Greenpeace. But it goes along with their contempt for science and their self-serving publicity practices," he added.
Norwegian Minke Whale Quota: Tiny Increase for 1999
From High North Web News
Nov. 27, 1998: At the opening of the Norwegian Whalers' Union annual meeting in the Lofoten Islands today, Minister of Fisheries Peter Angelsen announced a tiny increase in next year's minke whale quota. In 1999, whalers will be allowed to take a maximum of 753 animals, up from 671 this year (of which 624 were taken).
"We cannot be satisfied with this," says union chairman Jan Kristiansen to the High North Web News. "We expected a substantial increase to bring the quota more in line with the recommendation of scientists, who say an annual harvest of about 2,000 would be sustainable."
The two minke whale stocks harvested are estimated to total 184,000 -- 112,000 in the Northeast Atlantic and 72,000 in the Central Atlantic.
"Given the reproductive capacity of the minke whale - with a minimum growth rate of 1-2% in a harvested stock - the quota should be three times larger than at present," says Kristiansen.
A focal point of the meeting will be interactions between marine mammals and fisheries, and in particular the consumption by whales and seals of fish, thought to be comparable to the catch landed by fishermen. "We can only make enlightened decisions by applying multi-species management to the ecosystem as a whole," says Kristiansen. "Marine mammals and fish stocks are closely related, and cannot be managed in isolation from each other."
Also scheduled for the meeting is the first screening of a new documentary on Norwegian minke whaling which Kristiansen believes will help it gain greater acceptance.
"Opponents of whaling call us 'commercial' whalers as if that is something to be ashamed of," he says, "but we don't feel this way. On the contrary, we are privileged to be able to make our living's providing a source of protein that is not only healthy but also environment-friendly. Most people get up each morning and go to work in order to make money, but few do so in such close harmony with nature as the whalers."
Whale Stew (A Recipe from Neah Bay)
Ingredients:
- 1 whale
- 50,000 lb. chopped celery
- 100,000 lb. chopped onion
- 150,000 lb. carrots
- 12 cases canned whole tomatoes (lg)
- 8 large boxes salt
- 300,000 lb. medium potatoes
- 2 boxes pepper (to taste)
- Dash of cayenne
Instructions:
- 1. Cut the whale into small pieces.
- 2. Place in a large pot along with all the other ingredients.
- 3. Cover with water, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for two weeks.
NB: Serves everyone in the village all winter.
Japanese / Nuu chah nulth Cultural Exchange
A message from WCW chairman Chief Tom Mexsis Happynook
For this year's Japanese Whaling Festival in Tokyo I, along with 13 other Nuu chah nulth people, were guests of the Japan Whaling Association . We performed traditional whaling songs and dances before a crowd of 3,000 people in Tokyo's Sumo wrestling arena.
Prior to the festival we attended a cultural evening in the whaling town of Wada, performing our songs and enjoying the songs and dances of the people of Wada.
I was fortunate to arrive a week before the rest of the group to visit the three other whaling towns, Abashiri, Ayukawa and Taiji.
Abashiri, coincidentally, is the sister city to Port Alberni which is one of the largest cities in Nuu chah nulth territory. I was able to visit with the mayor and the town council to learn more about the importance of whaling in Japan. I also visited an area for flensing whales.
During my visit to Ayukawa we received a report that one of the pilot whale boats was returning with two whales on board and that the boat would arrive at one a.m. I found myself in the fortunate position to be able to witness the skill of the Japanese flensers as they processed the two pilot whales. I want to thank all of the flensers for taking the time to teach me how important it is to ensure that the product that gets to the consumer is of the best quality.
In Taiji, after meeting the mayor and town council, I visited the town's very impressive whaling museum which clearly documents the tradition of whaling in their community.
The most significant outcome of my experiences in Japan is how important it is for my people to return to our traditional foods and be proud that we are whalers. I believe that this can apply to all the whaling societies around the world.
Thank you to the Japan Whaling Association for the invitation and the hard work in making it possible for me and a Nuu-chah-nulth dance group to visit Japan and be part of the Japan Whaling Festival.
Thank you to the Japanese Small-type Whalers Association for allowing me the honor of visiting the four whaling communities, Abashiri, Ayukawa, Taiji and Wada, I learned so much. To the Mayors, leaders and people of these communities thank you for the hospitality.
Thank you to Shigeko Misaki and the members of TRUE ECO NET (TEN).Without your hard work and dedication to our whaling organization we would not be where we are today. It was an honor for me to meet the members of TEN and to be included in a group photo. I believe many years from now that the photo will remind the whalers of the future that a small group of people can, and did make a difference in our fight to re-establish whaling as a time-honored profession.
Thank you to Mrs. Ohnishi who showed me the importance of whales in the food culture of Japan. The meal at your restaurant in Osaka was magnificent. Thank you so much for hosting our group for two days and for all your support and work you do for WCW.
Thank you to the Nuu chah nulth Tribal Council and the Huu ay aht First Nation for their continuing support. Your contributions toward the trip were greatly appreciated.
A tremendous personal thank you to Konomu Kubo and Chikao Kimura. Both put in an extraordinary amount of time translating and catering to our needs while we were in their beautiful country.
The past couple of months have been very busy at the WCW office. The planning for our up-coming general assembly is in full swing, most of the invitations were out by the end of December and we are receiving a lot of positive responses.
With the Makah hunt bringing whaling to the forefront of the news in this part of the world we have been inundated by calls from the media. It has been an on-going experience to educate the media and the public. With all this attention the schools have become very interested in bringing this current event to their classrooms. We have been doing two presentations a month in the schools, usually for ten to twelve year old children. The children and teachers are very receptive to our discussions and are left with a lot to think about. The feedback has been extremely positive.
Please note our new website address, www.worldcouncilofwhalers.com. (www.wcw.com went to World Championship Wrestling.) We have already noticed increased contact from students and others interested in our cause. For example: a high school in North Carolina entering a satellite debate with other schools across the USA wanted to take the side of the whalers' right to whale. They were so pleased to find us to help them win their debate. We loaded them up with facts and arguments. They are going to let us know how they do.
All's quiet in Neah Bay - for the moment. The gray whale migration south should have passed by now, but migrating whales were not seen along the Washington coast this past season. The phenomenon noted by scientists has not been explained. The migration north to Bering Sea should be under way in March.
The whale hunt anticipated by hordes of hungry journalists and strident protesters to begin promptly on October 1 did not happen. To their great disappointment, members of the protest industry were not filmed saving a whale. Indeed, the most press they got was a scuffle in Neah Bay that developed when Sea Shepherd Society's Lisa Distefano defied Makah restrictions on using their dock. Sea Shepherd's boat was confiscated.
It was a dreary, cold, windy, rainy and very expensive watch as the Sea Shepherd "flotilla" rode at anchor in rough seas off Neah Bay for two months, dependent on small support vessels to bring their supplies from ports outside the reservation. A fleet of small craft representing eco-tour businesses joined Sea Shepherd's zodiacs for regular searches for the elusive Makah whaling canoe. With little to do, whale lovers began "adopting" and naming the "resident" whales that grazed within sight of their beach camps up the coast. False alarms that the hunt was under way sent their boats racing to encircle and protect "Buddy" or "Bambi".
As a concession to whale watching interests, the Makah had agreed not to pursue (until November 1) the whales that had dropped out of the migration and stayed close to shore all summer around Neah Bay. Even then, they were restricted to a hunting zone. Once the migrating whales were passing out at sea, all whales would be considered migratory. The agreement forced them to forego the whales which their ancestors would have taken, and paddle great distances through rough seas after the storms had begun.
By mid-November Paul Watson had agreed to withdraw his fleet if the Makah would sit down and negotiate. The ships left; the meetings were held, and the Makah maintained their resolve to go whaling. Offers of consultation and training in a whale-watching enterprise and a plum of $12 million from Keiko's rich friend, Craig McCaw, had already been refused. On December 1, the tribe called a general assembly from which an unequivocal proclamation emerged: the Makah tribe would no longer entertain, or even listen to, offers from outsiders to buy off their planned whale hunt.
So when is the hunt? "When we are ready!", say the Makah.
Newspapers and websites were the primary resource for this update. To put Makah whaling news in context, the following websites are recommended: The Seattle Times carries the most Makah news. Other west-coast papers keeping track are: The Oregonian , The Seattle Post-Intelligencer and The Eugene Register-Guard .