The fascinating thing I find about “whalescience” is that there have originated some epiphanies regarding whales and by scientific men, believe it or not!

There comes a time, for example, in a cellular physiologist’s life where he/she faces the fact that he/she can tell you that a cell does this or that, what it does, but not WHY it does it, or how it knows how to do it.

It is the same with whales. Scientists have begun, in earnest, to study whales. And I agree that there is a big tendency of anthropomorphizing the whales’ activity as that is the way man does things. He compares actions and activities to himself and his feelings and attitudes with WHY a creature (other than a human) does things “similar” to man. Read the rest of this entry »

What do Gray Whales, Japanese & US PR, and killer whales have in common?

Before I answer that question, let’s look at a bit of background “current events”.

Recently the California Gray Whale Coalition put together and extensive report /petition (with the aid of the Mexican government) of documented evidence that the number of Gray Whale calves have been downtrending for at least the past ten years.

What does that  mean?

Well, for one, it means that the Gray Whale population is actually decreasing in size.

The truth is, of the populations studied throughout the world, the only Gray Whale population promoted by the US and Japan as healthy and thriving is the Pacific Gray Whale.

First of all, actual “counts” are speculations at best. It is like looking into a large crowd and then writing that over ten thousand people attended, when in fact it was actually half that number. What the Mexican government and scientists have discovered is that the whales are far thinner and have less calves. And this is documented by several independent creditable sources.

Second of all, Sea Shepherd is actually creating an impact on Japan’s illegal whaling in Antarctica.

And I say illegal, because even Japan’s newspaper columnists state the fact that whales are killed through a loophole for research, while the meat is sold on the open Japanese market. In recent weeks it was exposed by Wikileaks that Japan was telling the U.S. that the Sea Shepherd was actually interfering with their whaling in the Southern Seas.  Japan’s hunt for whales may be curtailed in the next years because of the tremendous ship, manpower and fuel costs which are not turning a profit.

So where would Japan go for more whales? For one, Iceland. But also the Pacific Ocean.

US PR has stated that Gray Whales are on the rise in the Pacific and took them off the Endangered Species list. The above petition was submitted to the US Marine Services and it was denied, even though independent resources advised the USMR to consider the claims as real! Is there a connection? What do you think?

Then it comes to Killer Whales. As if Gray Whales do not have enough problems staying healthy (krill counts are way down throughout the world) their calves are sought after by Killer Whales. This is a natural thing. However it means that Gray Whales have no respite from man or another species.

Add to the fact several other points. One is that Gray Whales used to exist in the millions and now in about 20 thousand (I suspect the actual reporting counts).  Another point is that Killer Whales are not hunted by any country, and so it’s population is actually on a dramatic increase. So more calves are eaten. And with less of a whale population, the species dwindles toward extinction.

Third point. I mentioned earlier that scientists around the world have discovered huge decreases in krill.

That is due to man’s overfishing and of a lesser known fact: whale feces.

You see, when then whales were a larger population (millions), their feces fed plankton, which in turn fed small crustaceans including krill.

Less whales, less plankton, less krill. And you thought you had to be a rocket scientist to figure that out.

Go to the head of the class.

Finally, Japan has expressed an interest in hunting the Pacific Gray Whales, as they are a “sustainable species”.

Well, if you have read my earlier blogs, I believe the Japanese are tremendous “wordmeisters”. They use words that appear correct, but their actual definition use is different. In this case I believe it refers to how much whale meat they can keep reasonably full in their refrigerators. The word “sustainable” actually has nothing to do with a species surviving. It is the same with “research”. In this case research might mean “to find out how much whale meat we can get into our food lockers before the world gets wise to us.” That definition works for me. How about you?

In the not to distant future we will see the Gray Whale population (for that matter all whales) with less than 1,000 throughout the world, our seas barren of fish, recognize that they have been in jeopardy by governments who turn a blind eye for diplomatic or financial favors.

And at that time, as with the lion, the rhino and the panda, the meat, skin, horns and teeth will be more valuable to people than the live creature. Poachers will kill the remaining creatures. It is happening today.

And our children will only see them in videos and hear their songs from a digital recording.

The Japan Times ran an ad in their newspaper promoting the sale of whale meat purchased by the Japanese Cetacean Research Institute.

Today it is a sad reminder for those who love whales by those who do not.

In a commentary by Jun Hongo, staff writer for the JAPAN TIMES, Jun reports that the annual sale of whale meat has started:

“The [whale] meat is from finbacks, minks, sei and sperm whales taken in government-sponsored research hunts in areas from the Northwestern Atlantic to near Iceland.”

This says it all. Openly and once again, Japan laughs in the face of the world. Here in the above statement is again openly admitted the fact that the whale research was never intended as research but an avenue to slaughter whales and dolphins.

The meat went on sale today at the noted Hankyu Hashin Department store.

Read the rest of this entry »

In an article posted in the JAPAN Times, the new Whale Museum Curator (Hayato Sakurai) felt that Taiji has been misunderstood by the world.

“I am neutral (as to whether catching dolphins for human consumption [and whales] and display in aquariums is right or wrong), but it is unfortunate the issue is discussed among people who don’t know about Taiji and the people there…”

I think that the world does understand. I believe that it is the Taiji people who do not.

Issues can be made complicated or they can be made simple. What I have personally experienced by visiting Japan several times, and having family live there, is the amount of significance given to ceremonies and beliefs. Although such significances are part of the tradition of Japan, so is the advance of technology and knowledge.

Times must change. Read the rest of this entry »

I usually talk about whales and endangered whales.  But when I saw this article on the web, I felt I needed to write something.

The Cove in our own back yard?

There has been lots of press and world attention drawn to the village of Taiji for its annual killing of dolphins. A beautiful video done by beautiful people who tell a very sad tale in a far off land, where simple creatures are killed wantonly or sold into slavery.

A crime we long ago stopped in our own country. And yet the original motivation is the same.

Money.

People taken from their homes en masse. Hundreds placed in ships, a life expectancy rate of less than 50% while at sea. And then a life of hard labor, loss of culture and family.

Yes, we have changed. We no longer practice things like slavery on man. We practice slavery on creatures.

And again, it is for profit.

And it is in our own back yard – Las Vegas, Nevada at the Mirage!

The Mirage is owned by MGM Grand International. It is home to an exhibit called “Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat”.  Upon entering the facility, for which you pay $15, you are given a brochure which talks about conservation and gives you wild dolphin facts. However, advertisements on TV and magazines push their “be trainer for a day” programs more.

The trainer for a day program cost are as follows: Trainer for a day $495. Trainer with one observer $645 and Trainer with 2 observers is $795.00

The dolphins perform tricks and flips for the paying customers and are given fish to feed as reward. These are not natural behaviors for dolphins; it is a trained and taught behavior.

The Mirage exhibit has been the death sentence for many wild and captive-born dolphins – 14 to be precise.

The Born Free foundation and the WSPA have condemned this place for its claims of being a research and educational facility, while in reality it is motivated by profits.

Well, all I see are 14 dead dolphins. They were captives for profit.

The new PR for Las Vegas takes on a new meaning for me:

“What goes on in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas”

I have changed it to “What dies in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas”

If you would like to do something about this, click here.

If you don’t know why more big stars aren’t involved with the sea environment just check their pocketbooks.

George Clooney doing coffee commercials? Sylvester Stallone promoting Knorr Soup? Harrison Ford promoting Kirin Beer? Sean Connery and Bridgestone tires? Jodie Foster selling Coffee Latte?

Here are a few more names: Cameron Diaz, Kevin Costner, Janet Jackson, Phoebe Cates, Sheryl Crow, Aerosmith, Mariah Carey, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brad Pitt, Madonna, Keanu Reeves, Meg Ryan, but the list goes on. And on.

Have you ever noticed that as of recent, major Hollywood Actors have supported Human Rights Issues (which is a good thing, mind you) however for the most part many have ignored animal rights, especially dolphins and endangered whales?

Aside from Sea Shephard’s “Whale Wars” how many big name Hollywood stars and starlets actually have stepped up to the plate for the endangered marine environment?

There is a wonderful ad on YouTube for dolphins. There are a few big names there. I am thankful these guys have stepped up to the plate.

Kevin Costner has helped fund and promote a device (I believe for his brother), which extracts oil out of sea water. Former OO7 Pierce Brocklin has stepped up to support anti-whaling, but why aren’t there any other takers? It seems many (including major rock stars and divas) have not really pursued this line as well.

Why?

I think there might be an answer. I do not have the financial statistics, however all of the below stars have a huge vested interest in Japan. And it is my own opinion, of course.

Many of the major silver screen stars are paid millions for representing Japanese products shown on Japanese television.

They appear in Japanese product ads. You would never see them do this here in the states. Why? Because that information is blacked-out. Contracts are written to “protect” these stars from the US knowing about these commercials and ads. Part of the reason is that this kind of work is considered a no-no in the states. That kind of activity means an actor is not doing well and not a super star. So, you never see this stuff.

Do you see any of these people saying anything about Japan? Mind you, you can and will probably get an answer, like “I participate in Cancer Research, etc.” Not that this is a bad thing, but have you noticed how it seems a little sparse in terms of star power?

Do you think for one moment any of these people would jeopardize huge income for the sake of the marine environment, or for that matter, their contracts with Japan? Look around, do some research and you’ll see some human rights issues. But the marine environment, endangered whales and dolphins are avoided like the plague.

If you do your own research and can tell me different, I’d love your comments on this one.

There is a very real danger that will destroy the marine eco system

Some call it global warming. Pro Whalers are saying it is Whales.

I call it whale poop.

Yes, whale poop, believe it or not. Now, I am not saying “whale poop” as a metaphoric comment like “boulderdash” or “nonsense.” It is the real thing.

Whale poop.

Now before you consider me crazy, please bear with me. This is not a “whale of a tale” by any stretch of the imagination although a few will say “I am full of it”. And if you follow my logic and read the supporting links, you will see that we are imminently killing our seas.

You see, there are already physical universe indicators that the marine environment is dying. Scientists and researchers have noted that normal fishing areas are being depleted, causing foreign countries, like Japan to go to other waters near other countries and continue to fish.

It is actually silly, that a blogger like myself figured this out.

It is a known fact that the once plentiful Sea of Japan is no longer a source for fisherman. It has been discovered that fish migrations have moved their feeding grounds further north or south. One of the prime food sources for fish at the lower end of the food chain is krill. However, recent studies have shown dwindling krill populations. Pro-whalers contend that dwindling krill levels are due to the massive consumption of krill by whales. The main contenders to this theory is Japan and Iceland.

Krill feed on plankton. Plankton feed on nitrogen rich particulate matter found in sea water.

It has recently been discovered and reported that whale poop (feces) when released by a whale, has converted the krill it has eaten into energy. However the waste byproduct is a nitrogen rich particulate matter. This particulate matter is eaten by plankton, which in turn feeds not only the krill, but the rest of the marine food chain.

Killing whales, who are a major source of nitrogen rich particulate matter (rather big poop and lots of it!), reduces the amount of food once available for the microscopic food chain. When one considers that the entire whale population once numbered in millions about 100 years ago but now is in the tens of thousands, that extinction of whales severely threatens the entire marine food chain.

The result is less fish. And guess what? We are already depleting the seas of large fish and whales. Additionally there is a new fad, taking the world by storm.

Omega 3 krill oil.

Not only is the oil extracted from fish but from krill. So we are now depleting that resource from the marine environment.

It is ironic that the fate of the marine environment depends on whale poop. One can even laugh and joke about it. Yet it is honestly far from funny.

What man has done is replace nitrogen with toxic pollutants such as mercury. In the above link as commented in the TOKYO METROPOLIS, Japan has greatly assisted in the polluting of our waters. And the result is that higher levels of mercury are found in many fish species including whales. It is mans contribution to the sea.

Allowing whaling on large scale is and has been over time depleting our seas at microscopic levels we are only beginning to uncover. Now it becomes even more critical that more take a stand and protect our seas and our whales, before it is too late.

And as technologically advanced we think we are on this planet, whales have us beat in balancing the environment.