The
human-cetacean relationship
We believe that there are the three major connections between cetaceans and
people in Japan. The 1st is food. Every year, hundreds of whales of are hunted
in the name of "scientific research whaling" in the Antarctic Ocean and the
North Pacific. Furthermore around 20,000 dolphins and small whales are hunted
as food
in Japanese coastal waters under a catch quota decided by the Fisheries Agency.
The 2nd is the utilization of cetaceans for amusement in aquariums and similar
venues. Here the dolphins are forced to perform and interact for amusement
purposes. The 3rd is interacting with the animals in the wild, like as swimming
with dolphins, whale watching, and so on, which have been very popular recently.
Currently all of these are in progress simultaneously.
We, Iruka & Kujira
Action Network, think that commercial dealings with cetaceans should not
be conducted, since cetaceans are a wild mammals with low reproduction rates.
Although it is difficult to say conclusively what is right and what is wrong,
this is why various ideas of values exist in modern society. We consider
that keeping cetaceans in aquariums is not desirable either, because confinement
in small, sterilized tanks, designed primarily for viewing is unjust. Such
situation neither fair or natural for cetaceans and does not give spectators
any true insight about nature and wildlife.
Iruka(dolphins) & Kujira(whales) Action Network, IKAN
P.O. Box #10 Iruma Post Office Saitama
Prefecture Japan
Email:
QWP06555@nifty.ne.jp