SANTO DOMINGO.- Greenpeace today urged the Dominican Government to fight the hunting of humpback whales, around 900 of which visit the country every year, whose killing the International Whaling Commission authorized in June after a 20 year ban.
Greenpeace Latin America campaign coordinator Milko Schvartzman, quoted by Efe in Santo Domingo, said the Caribbean country joined the Whaling Commission in 2009, but hasn’t paid the annual fee of around 10,000 dollars which gives a voice and vote in the entity’s meetings, the last one held June in Morocco.
The lack of a vote allowed Greenland an annual quota of nine humpbacked whales during three years, issued by the Commission of 88 countries which regulates the hunting and other actions regarding their study and tourism policies that affect their populations.
"To us it not only matters that Dominican Republic has voice and vote in commission" but its presence in the organization is important because it’s the most important whale watching country in the entire Caribbean," Schvartzman said.
Samaná peninsula (northeast) has the Caribbean’s only humpbacked whale sanctuary, where the cetaceans visit every year to mate and birth.
Schvartzman said "each vote counts" in the International Whaling Commission, for which the Government’s presence in that forum is fundamental for their protection, because each one killed "is one humpbacked whale less which comes to the Dominican Republic.”
Commercial hunting of humpbacked whales had been banned since 1966 and since 1986 for subsistence, but in Morocco’s meeting Denmark managed authorization to hunt whales for the subsistence of communities of Greenland.
SOURCE: diariolibre.com
Written by: matador, 6 Dec 2010 2:50 PM
From: United States, www.brugal-ron.com/home.php
Can we eat Pork instead. why killing this poors whales.
Written by: Atabey, 6 Dec 2010 2:55 PM
From: United States, NYC
10,000 dollars is small change for a voice and vote on this matter. One would think that having an interest in this mammals preservation, if only because its survival means more tourist dollars in Samana, that our leaders would take a few moments to acknowledge the importance and vote the 10,000 dollar in Congress!! God knows they spend enough on jeepetas and other material goods.
Written by: xwill7, 6 Dec 2010 3:38 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
That area needs the whales for the tourism
Written by: anthonyC, 6 Dec 2010 4:11 PM
From: United States
Get a grip people.
The Terrorist organization known as greenpeace is once again playing on your simple emotions.
9 whales...NINE WHALES over 3 years. That averages out to only 3 per year.
3 out of the estimated population of 90,000!!!!!!!
Written by: riosm, 6 Dec 2010 4:30 PM
From: United States
LOL Arm the whales and build a portable fence to corral them in once here, that way they'll be safe and we'll have whales 365 days a year.
On the serous side they must be protected at all cost. I say have the Dominican Navy Patrol and escort them in Dominican waters and there migration routes. Each Nation should do it's part.
Forget the vote and the whaling commision......The Dominican Gov. should demand not ask.
Written by: anthonyC, 6 Dec 2010 4:35 PM
From: United States
Written by: riosm,
"On the serous side they must be protected at all cost."
Why?
Why are they more valuable than any other animal?
Many wild animals are hunted and their populations maintained through proper game management.
Written by: riosm, 6 Dec 2010 5:08 PM
From: United States
AnthonyC,
That's the problem there is really no such thing as an international game management...whales are free to roam the world's oceans and there migration routes. While in Dominican waters we must protect them.
To some Nations it's hunt as many as possible........I say ARM the whales.
Written by: Atabey, 6 Dec 2010 6:20 PM
From: United States, NYC
Status: Because their feeding, mating, and calving grounds are close to shore and because they are slow swimmers, the humpback whales were an easy target for early whalers. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) gave them worldwide protection status in 1966, but there were large illegal kills by the Soviets until the 1970's. It is believed they number about 30,000-40,000 at present, or about 30-35% of the original population.
http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/humpback.htmAC where did you get 90K from??
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
The question Anthony C poses is almost indecent ..as it suggests that the earth is here only for humans to do what we want , I think that any decent proposition would be that we share this earth with all creatures great and small and that already we have done untold damage by eliminating a large number of species of animals by maliciousness.
Written by: anthonyC, 6 Dec 2010 6:37 PM
From: United States
Written by: Ricardolito,
"The question Anthony C poses is almost indecent ..as it suggests that the earth is here only for humans to do what we want"
Yea, pretty much.
Written by: anthonyC, 6 Dec 2010 6:41 PM
From: United States
Still waiting for somebody to give me a valid reason why 3 whales a year shouldn't be harvested.
Written by: anthonyC, 6 Dec 2010 6:41 PM
From: United States
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
maybe AnthonyC ..it would be equally valid to ask ..why should not the whales kill 3 humans every year ..just for harvesting !!! I can just imagine all the indignation from people if that was the case
Written by: Atabey, 6 Dec 2010 9:43 PM
From: United States, NYC
Written by: riosm, 6 Dec 2010 10:24 PM
From: United States
LOL Idea......why not just paint a Dominican Navy submarine like a whale and when fired on.....shoot back then claim self defense.
I'm sure they can find one of those used drug smuggling subs somewhere like ?
The DR Gov. should step up to the plate and demand helping to save the whales.
Almost forgot....the DR gov. should consider the possible lost $$$ revenues should the whales find some other safer breeding bay.
AnthonyC
I don't hunt yet I do support well regulated hunting but, harvesting 3 whales a year......more like 3 whales too many.
Ricardolito,
Thank you....I myelf have seen many whales off the Big Sur, California coast up close what a sight.
Man is and should be care takers of the Earth, after all were only one planet.
From: Dominican Republic
A question....how many here have eaten whale meat?
What is the purpose?
WE DO NOT HAVE WHALE BARS (AT LEAST FOR EATING...OFTEN THE WELL TO DO WHO THINK THAT A 43 INCH WAIST IS APPEALLING) would be the exception...just before hoping into the next $80,000 SUV in the parking lot.
Written by: anthonyC, 7 Dec 2010 1:14 AM
From: United States
Still waiting for somebody to present a logical reason why the Harvesting of 3 whales a year is so terrible.
Written by: riosm, 7 Dec 2010 2:16 AM
From: United States
AnthonyC
it's one too many.
Written by: anthonyC, 7 Dec 2010 9:14 AM
From: United States
Written by: riosm,
"AnthonyC
it's one too many. "
Why?
What makes Humpback Whales different then deer, ducks, elk, Turkey, Salmon and a myriad of other harvested, wild animals?
Written by: matador, 7 Dec 2010 9:26 AM
From: United States, www.brugal-ron.com/home.php
To anthonyC,
What makes Humpback Whales different then deer, ducks, elk, Turkey, Salmon and a myriad of other harvested, wild animals? is that HumpBack Whales take years to develops their actual sizes and they can only have one littler baby whale at the time. there is only 900,000 of them left. so if we keep killing them, soon they will be none. Now how many Deers,ducks,turkey,fish etc can you get in a farm per year????
Written by: anthonyC, 7 Dec 2010 11:19 AM
From: United States
Matador,
First off I am talking about wild game not farm animals. With proper management, wild game can be harvested with populations maintained.
Now explain to me how the harvesting of 3 whales a year would endanger the Humpback whale population?
From: United States
Wanna bet the DR's vote is still counted and presented by Greenpeace even if they don't pay the $10K? Greenpeace are nothing more than a bunch of pot smoking, hippy, gay pirates.
Ricardildo fits in nicely with this group.
From: Dominican Republic
First
Whales help maintain the food chain by eating krill and small fish that are very abundant in artict regions, i am not aware the extension of the damage that can be cause to the artict ecosystem if those krills are not eaten.
Second
When a whale dies, its meat and fat serve as food for many life form ranging from sharks, other whales and many species of carnivourus fishes. On course, when they naturally.
Third
As said by matador HumpBack Whales take years to develops their actual sizes and they can only have one littler baby whale at the time every two years, meaning that recovery takes a lot of time.
Fourth
What's the need to kill them, what can we get from whales that we can't obtain from other cheaper means? Fat? People nowadays doesn't need fat to create light, cow and pig farmers sells their animals fat and make a profit out of it. Clothes? Food? That's what farm animals are for, they grow and reproduce quickly with many offsprings.
Written by: anthonyC, 7 Dec 2010 12:50 PM
From: United States
martngarata,
All true points except the last one which has no basis in the debate. Why eat beef when you can eat pork? Why eat Salmon when you can eat Tilapia?
I want a logical reason for why there shouldn't be a harvesting of just 3 humpback whales a year?
Written by: riosm, 7 Dec 2010 1:22 PM
From: United States
1. The last largest living mammals on earth.
2. How many people on earth can survive off 3 whales a year.
3. Like all creatures on earth they help maintain our sea ecosystem.
Nature does take care of its self with out mans help.
Written by: Jcovingt, 7 Dec 2010 1:24 PM
From: United States
This is where you go wrong Anthony, why do we need a reason NOT to hunt? These species are 90 million years apart in evolution yet they may be the most intelligent life form on planet earth besides humans. They have a complex system of communication and society and have even been known to offer gifts to researchers that have been following their pods. You do realize that sociopaths are judged on their compassion for other forms of life. Why do you think we call it acting humanely? The logical reason: The Ocean's ecosystem is very complex and requires all parts to be healthy for the system to be healthy. There are also many potential breaking points in the food chain that can have catastrophic effects on the entire system. Why jeopardize the main source of protein for all humans, fish, for the ignorant pride to hunt a humpback whale? There is no economic reason for this. Lastly, the revenue from watching far outstrips the monies earned from killing. What does your logic look like?
Written by: anthonyC, 7 Dec 2010 1:52 PM
From: United States
Again I will ask for a LOGICAL REASON WHY 3 WHALES CAN'T BE HUNTED A YEAR!!!
3
THREE
TRES
TROIS
It isn't a massive hunt to exterminate 1000's........BUT 3!!!!!!
3 less whales will have no measurable impact on the ecosystem. So spare me the doom and gloom.
Written by: Cacique, 7 Dec 2010 3:23 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Antony, humans can learn much for whales, very intelligent, ancient creatures of this great village, no kill something that can teach us, peace....
Written by: Jcovingt, 7 Dec 2010 3:38 PM
From: United States
Many have given you logical reasons. They are simply cost benefit analyses based in logic rather than the black and white answer you desire. The fact that you do not consider our reasons as logical goes to show that your question is ultimately rhetorical. Simply because you do not except our logic does not mean that they have not been given. Therefore the burden is now on you to give all of us (since you seem to be the only person of you particular opinion in this forum) a logical explanation as to why we need to, should hunt three humpback whales. Keep in mind that citing that it will only be three per year is not an argument as it is your uninformed opinion that three whales do not matter. In fact I believe that you will find that your argument must take the form of cost benefit in order to be at all persuasive or reasonable. I await your reasoning.
Written by: anthonyC, 7 Dec 2010 3:51 PM
From: United States
Written by: Cacique, 7
"Antony, humans can learn much for whales,"
HOLY CRAP!!! What the F*CK can we learn from whales? How to crap in the ocean?
Written by: anthonyC, 7 Dec 2010 3:58 PM
From: United States
Jcovingt,
With all due respect I have yet to see anyone give a cost/benefit analysis of the taking of 3 whales.
All I have read is a bunch of emotional rants that have no basis in fact.
I can give you a very good reason to allow the hunt.
Freedom!
Somebody wants to harvest 3 whales a year. An act approved by their Government's regulatory agencies. The harvesting of 3 whales a year will not harm nor effect the quickly growing Humpback Whale population.
Their is no logical reason to not allow it.
Now if you are one of those who thinks that cetaceans are some kind of special creatures with mystical powers that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside think you are saving them then just admit it. Don't try and claim some kind of logical argument because it isn't!
Written by: Jcovingt, 7 Dec 2010 4:18 PM
From: United States
The freedom to kill is not a reason in and of itself. I think our disagreement lies in our understanding of logic as your argument has none of it. A logical argument is such:
Hypothesis: the whaling of humpback whales creates no net benefit to society as a whole.
Reason: The value of a whale alive is greater than the value of a dead whale as whale watching brings in an order of magnitude more revenue than whale killing.
Reason: Whales play an important role in the ecosystem as a predator and source of food for particular species and the current population is significantly below historical levels.
Counter argument and rebuttal: The freedom to kill a whale 1. is not an essential factor in the happiness of society. 2. does not add significant utility to society.
As killing an additinal 3 whales per yr does not outweigh the cost to society, however small, we should not allow it.
Written by: Jcovingt, 7 Dec 2010 4:27 PM
From: United States
Also, we can learn a lot from whales. I doubt that the commentor meant that we can talk with them and learn life lessons like we would with our grandfather (that would be unlikely though not impossible, see more on the language of cetaceans. It will suprise you just how developed their system of communication is. They commonly gossip about other members of the pod that are not present (displacement) a characteristic previously only attributed to humans). Just as we can learn a lot from the structure of an oak leaf's nutrient transportation system to build better human transportation systems (this is a very valuable contribution to urban planning) or velcro, or bio-fuels, etc. we can learn a lot from the study of whales. It is called bio-mimicry and is a very important contributor to modern technology. Your denial of such possibilities is evidence to your narrow-mindedness and utter synicism towards life, knowledge, and technology.
From: Canada, Alberta
The practice of whaling is important to many indigenous groups, such as the Inuit living in the northern regions of North America. Traditionally the Inuit hunt bowhead whales purely for subsistence, and their dependence on whale meat has led it to be an integral part of their cultural beliefs. Because consumption is on a local level and the Inuit held a deep respect for the animal that fed them, it is a sustainable practice. However, the commercial whaling industry has caused strain on the traditional way of life for the Inuits, endangering their primary food source and causing international legislation to be passed prohibiting or reducing the hunting of whales. As whale populations suffer, so do those people who depend on them for basic nutrition.
http://kleighd.wordpress.com/2010....e-whaling-and-commercial-whaling/Written by: riosm, 8 Dec 2010 9:15 PM
From: United States
Allisonrmt,
Thank you for your informative input.
Native survival, cultural vs. plain profit....kinda reminds me of the north American buffalo hurds.
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The Terrorist organization known as greenpeace is once again playing on your simple emotions.
9 whales...NINE WHALES over 3 years. That averages out to only 3 per year.
3 out of the estimated population of 90,000!!!!!!!
On the serous side they must be protected at all cost. I say have the Dominican Navy Patrol and escort them in Dominican waters and there migration routes. Each Nation should do it's part.
Forget the vote and the whaling commision......The Dominican Gov. should demand not ask.
"On the serous side they must be protected at all cost."
Why?
Why are they more valuable than any other animal?
Many wild animals are hunted and their populations maintained through proper game management.
That's the problem there is really no such thing as an international game management...whales are free to roam the world's oceans and there migration routes. While in Dominican waters we must protect them.
To some Nations it's hunt as many as possible........I say ARM the whales.
http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/humpback.htm
AC where did you get 90K from??
"The question Anthony C poses is almost indecent ..as it suggests that the earth is here only for humans to do what we want"
Yea, pretty much.
Still waiting for somebody to give me a valid reason why 3 whales a year shouldn't be harvested.
From: United States
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/recovery/whale_humpback.pdf
That Information is from 1991!! AC. Come on. It's only 20 years dated!!!
I'm sure they can find one of those used drug smuggling subs somewhere like ?
The DR Gov. should step up to the plate and demand helping to save the whales.
Almost forgot....the DR gov. should consider the possible lost $$$ revenues should the whales find some other safer breeding bay.
AnthonyC
I don't hunt yet I do support well regulated hunting but, harvesting 3 whales a year......more like 3 whales too many.
Ricardolito,
Thank you....I myelf have seen many whales off the Big Sur, California coast up close what a sight.
Man is and should be care takers of the Earth, after all were only one planet.
What is the purpose?
WE DO NOT HAVE WHALE BARS (AT LEAST FOR EATING...OFTEN THE WELL TO DO WHO THINK THAT A 43 INCH WAIST IS APPEALLING) would be the exception...just before hoping into the next $80,000 SUV in the parking lot.
it's one too many.
"AnthonyC
it's one too many. "
Why?
What makes Humpback Whales different then deer, ducks, elk, Turkey, Salmon and a myriad of other harvested, wild animals?
What makes Humpback Whales different then deer, ducks, elk, Turkey, Salmon and a myriad of other harvested, wild animals? is that HumpBack Whales take years to develops their actual sizes and they can only have one littler baby whale at the time. there is only 900,000 of them left. so if we keep killing them, soon they will be none. Now how many Deers,ducks,turkey,fish etc can you get in a farm per year????
First off I am talking about wild game not farm animals. With proper management, wild game can be harvested with populations maintained.
Now explain to me how the harvesting of 3 whales a year would endanger the Humpback whale population?
Ricardildo fits in nicely with this group.
Whales help maintain the food chain by eating krill and small fish that are very abundant in artict regions, i am not aware the extension of the damage that can be cause to the artict ecosystem if those krills are not eaten.
Second
When a whale dies, its meat and fat serve as food for many life form ranging from sharks, other whales and many species of carnivourus fishes. On course, when they naturally.
Third
As said by matador HumpBack Whales take years to develops their actual sizes and they can only have one littler baby whale at the time every two years, meaning that recovery takes a lot of time.
Fourth
What's the need to kill them, what can we get from whales that we can't obtain from other cheaper means? Fat? People nowadays doesn't need fat to create light, cow and pig farmers sells their animals fat and make a profit out of it. Clothes? Food? That's what farm animals are for, they grow and reproduce quickly with many offsprings.
All true points except the last one which has no basis in the debate. Why eat beef when you can eat pork? Why eat Salmon when you can eat Tilapia?
I want a logical reason for why there shouldn't be a harvesting of just 3 humpback whales a year?
2. How many people on earth can survive off 3 whales a year.
3. Like all creatures on earth they help maintain our sea ecosystem.
Nature does take care of its self with out mans help.
Again I will ask for a LOGICAL REASON WHY 3 WHALES CAN'T BE HUNTED A YEAR!!!
3
THREE
TRES
TROIS
It isn't a massive hunt to exterminate 1000's........BUT 3!!!!!!
3 less whales will have no measurable impact on the ecosystem. So spare me the doom and gloom.
"Antony, humans can learn much for whales,"
HOLY CRAP!!! What the F*CK can we learn from whales? How to crap in the ocean?
With all due respect I have yet to see anyone give a cost/benefit analysis of the taking of 3 whales.
All I have read is a bunch of emotional rants that have no basis in fact.
I can give you a very good reason to allow the hunt.
Freedom!
Somebody wants to harvest 3 whales a year. An act approved by their Government's regulatory agencies. The harvesting of 3 whales a year will not harm nor effect the quickly growing Humpback Whale population.
Their is no logical reason to not allow it.
Now if you are one of those who thinks that cetaceans are some kind of special creatures with mystical powers that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside think you are saving them then just admit it. Don't try and claim some kind of logical argument because it isn't!
Hypothesis: the whaling of humpback whales creates no net benefit to society as a whole.
Reason: The value of a whale alive is greater than the value of a dead whale as whale watching brings in an order of magnitude more revenue than whale killing.
Reason: Whales play an important role in the ecosystem as a predator and source of food for particular species and the current population is significantly below historical levels.
Counter argument and rebuttal: The freedom to kill a whale 1. is not an essential factor in the happiness of society. 2. does not add significant utility to society.
As killing an additinal 3 whales per yr does not outweigh the cost to society, however small, we should not allow it.
http://kleighd.wordpress.com/2010....e-whaling-and-commercial-whaling/
Thank you for your informative input.
Native survival, cultural vs. plain profit....kinda reminds me of the north American buffalo hurds.