What is whaling and over fishing?
Whaling in the Faroe Islands
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC.
Overfishing is the concept of catching so many fish that there aren't enough adults left to breed and replace the ones you caught. Because the population can't rebuild itself there are fewer and fewer fish in the sea. If people carry on over fishing, it can result in a species becoming extinct.
Overfishing is the concept of catching so many fish that there aren't enough adults left to breed and replace the ones you caught. Because the population can't rebuild itself there are fewer and fewer fish in the sea. If people carry on over fishing, it can result in a species becoming extinct.
Who is hunting the whales?
Japanese whaling ship: Yushin Maru
Whaling was once a massive industry in many parts of the world, it's almost all stopped now but some great whales are still being hunted. There are three groups of people doing this:
1. Norwegian commercial whalers
Norway didn't fully accept the international agreement to stop whaling. They objected and so have continued to hunt Minke whales in the North Atlantic Ocean.
2. Japanese whalers with scientific permits
In Japan the government gives people permission
to hunt whales. Permits are issued to allow research into the animals and the boats take several hundred whales from the Antarctic and North Pacific.
3. Aboriginal subsistence whaling
Some people are allowed to hunt whales because it's considered a vital part of their culture. The International Whaling Committee allows a few aboriginal populations to hunt small numbers of whales.
1. Norwegian commercial whalers
Norway didn't fully accept the international agreement to stop whaling. They objected and so have continued to hunt Minke whales in the North Atlantic Ocean.
2. Japanese whalers with scientific permits
In Japan the government gives people permission
to hunt whales. Permits are issued to allow research into the animals and the boats take several hundred whales from the Antarctic and North Pacific.
3. Aboriginal subsistence whaling
Some people are allowed to hunt whales because it's considered a vital part of their culture. The International Whaling Committee allows a few aboriginal populations to hunt small numbers of whales.
International Whaling Commission
IWC logo.
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is the international body with management responsibility for the world's great whales. The great whales include the Blue, Fin, Sei, Bryde's, Minke, Right, Pygmy Right, Humpback, Bowhead, Gray and Sperm whale. These species are currently protected by the International Whaling Committee's temporary ban on commercial whaling. Commercial whaling is hunting whales to make money.
Whales in the Southern Ocean
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Blue Whale
Maximum length: 27m males / 33.5m females Adult weight: 200 tonnes max. / 110-120 tonnes average Life span: 90 years Distribution: worldwide, but separated into distinct stocks Current world population: up to 12 000 / pre-whaling - 200 000, maybe 300 000 Estimated Southern Ocean population: 2,300 |
Fin Whale
Maximum length: 25m males / 27m females, average 20m Adult weight: 50 tonnes average, but up to 130 tonnes Life span: 90 years Distribution: all oceans, several genetically isolated stocks Current world population: 85 000 / pre-whaling - 400 000 |
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Killer/Orca Whales
Maximum length: 9.8m males / 8.5m females Adult weight: males 11.1 tonnes max. / females 8.3 tonnes max. Life span: 35-50 years Distribution: common in all oceans Current world population: up to 100,000 Estimated Southern Ocean population: 70 000 Orcas weren't targeted by whalers, threats are interactions with fisheries and from pollution. |
Humpback Whale
Maximum length: 18m, average 12.9 m males / 13.7 m females Adult weight: around 25 - 35 tonnes, maximum of around 48 tonnes. Life span: 50 years Distribution: all oceans, Humpbacks don't cross the equator so populations separated. Current world population: 30 000 - 40 000 / pre-whaling 100 000 Estimated Southern Ocean population: 15 000 - 20 000 |
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Minke Whale
Maximum length: 10.7m males / 9.8m females Adult weight: 15 tonnes Life span: 30 - 50 years Distribution: poles to tropics Current world population: 500 000 / pre-whaling - 200 000 Estimated Southern Ocean population: 761,000 |
Sei Whale
Maximum length: 17.7m males / 20m females Adult weight: 33 tonnes Life span: 60 years Distribution: all oceans, though waters from 8 - 25°C are preferred Current world population: 80 000 / pre-whaling 150 000 |
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Sperm Whale
Maximum length: 18m males / 12.5m females, average around 16m. Adult weight: 63 tonnes males max. / 27 tonnes females max, average around 35 tonnes Life span: 60-70 years Distribution: all oceans, preference for deep waters, several distinct geographical sub-groups Current world population: 1 million / pre-whaling - 2.4 million |
Southern Right Whale
Maximum length: 17.1m males / 18.3m females Adult weight: 100 tonnes Distribution: poles to tropics Current world population: 7,500 - 8,000 / pre-whaling 190,000 |
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Why do whales travel to the Southern Ocean?
Minke whales in the Southern Ocean
Whales travel from places to places because of many reasons. Some include climate changes, water temperature, depth, salinity, topography of the sea floor and the biggest of reason of them all, the abundance of food.
Although most whales are found in all oceans, they still take on these huge migrations. Whales travel to cold waters for feeding and to warmer waters to give birth.
Although most whales are found in all oceans, they still take on these huge migrations. Whales travel to cold waters for feeding and to warmer waters to give birth.
Antarctica Food Chain
Anctartica Food Chain
The Antarctic Food Web is relatively simple compared to ecosystems in other parts of the world. There are fewer different species, but greater numbers of them. A key part of the Antarctic food web are krill small shrimp-like crustaceans that the great majority of Antarctic animals, seal, whales, penguins and other birds, fish etc. feed upon.
Affects of Whaling
Hvalba beach whaling, Faroe Islands
Whales are an important food source for animals, as well as maintaining smaller animal populations in check. Without the whales in the oceans, smaller animal's population will increase extensively (i.e. seals), which will destroy the balance of Antarctica's food chain.
Some whales eat plankton. Whales' consumption of this material is important in maintaining correct populations of species all of the way down the food chain. They are among the highest predators in their food chain, and are very important for this reason. Whales are also food sources for other "whales". Killer whales feed on other types of whales, as well as maintain seal populations. When seal populations are controlled, fish populations can maintain "proper" numbers, which means evolution still occurs because there are selective mechanisms in predation.
Some whales eat plankton. Whales' consumption of this material is important in maintaining correct populations of species all of the way down the food chain. They are among the highest predators in their food chain, and are very important for this reason. Whales are also food sources for other "whales". Killer whales feed on other types of whales, as well as maintain seal populations. When seal populations are controlled, fish populations can maintain "proper" numbers, which means evolution still occurs because there are selective mechanisms in predation.
Recommendations
For us to save the whales from extinction, humans need to stop whaling all together. To stop the commercial whaling, we need to stop purchasing whale products. That way they will receive no income and will eventually stop whaling. I also believe that the so called ‘scientific whaling’ should also be banned. 'Scientific whaling’ is still whaling with the cover of the word scientific. We already know a lot about whales and even if we require more information, killing them shouldn't be a part of the progress. Many people disprove the act of whaling and will agree that whaling is horrible and should not be continued.
References
http://www.antarctica.gov.au/environment/human-impacts-in-antarctica
http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/wildlife/whales/whales.htm
http://www.discoveringantarctica.org.uk/alevel_5_3.html
http://atcm35.antarctica.gov.au/
http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=84
http://iwcoffice.org/estimate
http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/wildlife/whales/whales.htm
http://www.discoveringantarctica.org.uk/alevel_5_3.html
http://atcm35.antarctica.gov.au/
http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=84
http://iwcoffice.org/estimate
Created By Molly Li