Call for Whaling Resurfaces
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
On May 12, a medium-sized fishing boat operating in the East Sea caught a minke whale ― 4.88 meters in length and 2.62 meters in circumference ― by chance. The ownership of the whale worth more than 25 million won ($25,000) at a local fish market was transferred to the boat's captain after maritime police confirmed the capture was accidental.
Whaling has been strictly banned in Korea after the government added every species of whale to the list of endangered species in 1986. Capture for research is not an exception.
This overdue protection has brought about a notable increase in the number of whales around the peninsula.
Pro-whaling activists allege the ``gluttonous'' mammals have disrupted both the marine ecosystem and the economy of fishing hamlets by eating small yet lucrative fishes inhabiting inshore waters. They also claim eating whale meat is a long tradition in southern provinces in the nation, but the time-honored habit has been diluted in the wake of the ban on whale hunting.
They now call on the government to partially allow whaling to restore the crippled ecosystem and local economy as well as traditional food.
Meanwhile, anti-whaling campaigners maintain their opposition whale hunting, alleging overall whales are still listed as endangered species internationally and eco-tourism utilizing whales will blow fresh wind into the sagging local economy.
The verbal battle over whaling resumption has been reiterated every single year on the occasion of the ``Whale Festival'' that takes place in May. But this year is a bit different since a provincial government, for the first time, has positively reacted to the resumption.
Whaling for Economic Revival
An association for young fishermen in Ulsan, North Gyeongsang Province, recently launched a joint campaign with Ulsan Namgu Ward Office to call on the central government to lift what they call ``obsolete'' restrictions on whaling. Also, they have run a signature-collection petition with the aim of garnering up to 1.1 million names of local residents to pressure the government.
``We hope for the resumption of whaling,'' Kim Soon-chul, the Ulsan Namgu Office spokesman, told The Korea Times. ``But it doesn't mean we want to catch certain endangered species recognized by the International Whaling Commission (IWC).''
The IWC has announced 13 whale species in jeopardy ― the Blue, Fin, Sperm, Northern Right, Sei, Humpback, Ghost, Bryde's and Minke whales, alongside four other biological variants of the Minke.
Every member state of IWC takes responsibility for prohibiting commercial whaling on the 13 threatened species. But the hunting for non-profit research is limitedly allowed after winning permission from the commission.
But the capture of dolphin-sized whale ― up to four meters in length ― is subject to each state's regulation, meaning resuming the capture of dolphin-sized whale in domestic water is totally dependent upon the government's decision.
``Dolphin and Minke whales are the most common species witnessed or caught around the peninsula. Although the Minke is regarded as an endangered species, its stock is sufficient enough so that there is no concern that whaling resumption would drop stocks to dangerous levels,'' Kim said.
The IWC estimates the number of Minke Whales around the world at 1 million and more than 200,000 in the northwestern Pacific alone.
According to the ward office, in the 1980s when whaling was permitted, more than 7,000 people settled around Jangsaengpo, a fishing port in Ulsan, and schools in its vicinities were flocked with thousands of students. As of now, however, the population in the area has dropped to a third of that two decades ago and only hundreds students are registered at schools there.
``People are leaving their hometown,'' the spokesman said.
Choi Dong-ik, a whale expert and director of Jangsaengpo Whale Museum, also sided with partial resumption of whaling.
``Above all, whaling for research should begin,'' Choi said. ``Most IWC members including some hard-line anti-whaling nations have conducted whale hunting for scientific purposes. For instance, on ingredients from whale largely attribute to the development of new medicine.''
Japan earned the right to catch around 1,370 whales annually for research from the IWC. Japanese government has utilized more than 1,500 marine scientists over the past two decades to win the privilege in exchange for offering reliable data on surviving whales to the IWC. The Korean government began similar studies in 1998 but has gone sluggishly due to manpower shortages ― only three scientists in the field.
Still Threatened Whale
Anti-whaling civic groups claim it's still too early to consider lifting the restriction since the estimated number of whales was scientifically groundless.
``Given the incessantly changing marine environment, the IWC's estimated number of threatened species including the Minke Whale is unacceptable,'' said Lee Sun-young, the spokeswoman for the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement of Ulsan. ``Discussing reliable information on threatened whales should be done first.''
Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon of the ruling Grand National Party, who represents Ulsan, held a public hearing on May 14 to listen to a variety of views on whaling resumption. ``Opinions collected will be used in seeking a breakthrough that can benefit both parties,'' the lawmaker said.
