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**tooratrack** · 06-03-2007, 02:54 PM

My understanding is that in certain regions of Japan, whaling has been going on since the 7th century (it is mentioned in the Kojiki, for example). That said, most cultures based near the sea have engaged in hunting whales and dolphins (in addition to other forms of fishing/hunting), so Japan is not unique in that respect.

I find it quite interesting that merely a week ago, the Yomiuri had a report how fewer Japanese are eating seafood and how that is effecting the economy blah, blah. The fact that most advanced nations are vastly over-fishing was ignored.
That issue did come up on a TV report some months ago on how China is selling cheap tuna, but this may cause a tuna shortage.
Funny, I remember warnings over 20 years ago that tuna were being overfished, but the world governments don't seem to have done much.

Some Japanese officials (read "pork barrel polititians) are claiming that the stocks of some fish species have been depleted by whales eating them.

Sorry folks, I think it's time we moved out of the hunter mentality when it comes to ocean life. Too much we don't know, too much we can't control.

And anyway, since when were sonar tracking, explosive warhead harpoons and factory ships part of the tradition?

06-03-2007, 02:54 PM	#17
tooratrack Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 386 Senior Member	My understanding is that in certain regions of Japan, whaling has been going on since the 7th century (it is mentioned in the Kojiki, for example). That said, most cultures based near the sea have engaged in hunting whales and dolphins (in addition to other forms of fishing/hunting), so Japan is not unique in that respect. I find it quite interesting that merely a week ago, the Yomiuri had a report how fewer Japanese are eating seafood and how that is effecting the economy blah, blah. The fact that most advanced nations are vastly over-fishing was ignored. That issue did come up on a TV report some months ago on how China is selling cheap tuna, but this may cause a tuna shortage. Funny, I remember warnings over 20 years ago that tuna were being overfished, but the world governments don't seem to have done much. Some Japanese officials (read "pork barrel polititians) are claiming that the stocks of some fish species have been depleted by whales eating them. Sorry folks, I think it's time we moved out of the hunter mentality when it comes to ocean life. Too much we don't know, too much we can't control. And anyway, since when were sonar tracking, explosive warhead harpoons and factory ships part of the tradition?
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