Another Tragedy That Pays Off The Nature in Earth
The World’s Largest Slaughter of Whales and Dolphins: Inside Japan’s Controversial Hunts
The oceans have long been a source of mystery, sustenance, and awe. For centuries, humanity has turned to the sea not only for food but also for cultural traditions and economic activity. Among the most controversial of these traditions is whaling, and at the heart of the modern debate lies Japan. Despite international outcry, shifting ecological perspectives, and the increasing awareness of marine sentience, Japan remains one of the few nations that continues to hunt whales and dolphins, sustaining what is considered the single largest slaughter of these marine mammals in the world.
This article dives deep into Japan’s whaling practices, the reasons behind them, the international response, and the broader ethical and ecological implications of whaling today.
Does Japan Still Hunt Whales and Dolphins?
Yes. Japan still hunts both whales and dolphins, and this practice continues to provoke global outrage and protest. Each year, particularly in the infamous Taiji cove in Wakayama Prefecture, hundreds of dolphins are driven into a narrow inlet in a process known as drive hunting. Once corralled, many of these dolphins are either killed for meat or captured for sale to marine parks and aquariums worldwide. The annual Taiji dolphin hunt, brought to international attention by the 2009 Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, is emblematic of Japan’s controversial marine mammal practices.
In addition to dolphins, Japan also conducts offshore and Antarctic whaling expeditions. These whaling operations have been conducted under various justifications over the years, from scientific research to commercial hunting, and continue despite bans imposed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
Each year, thousands of whales and dolphins are killed across the globe, with Japan being one of the most prominent countries involved in these practices. Despite international criticism and declining domestic demand, Japan continues to engage in both whale and dolphin hunting, citing cultural traditions and scientific research.Le Monde.fr
Whale Hunting in Japan
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission (IWC). In 2023, Japan reported the killing of 294 whales, including species such as minke and, more recently, fin whales. The Japanese government supports whaling as part of its cultural heritage and provides subsidies to sustain the industry, despite a significant decline in domestic consumption of whale meat, from over 230,000 tons in the 1960s to approximately 1,000–2,000 tons annually in recent years.
Dolphin and Small Cetacean Hunts in Japan
Japan’s hunting of dolphins and small whales is particularly controversial. The most infamous is the annual dolphin drive hunt in Taiji, where dolphins are driven into a cove, with some selected for captivity and others slaughtered for meat. In the 2024–2025 season, 286 dolphins were killed, and 94 were captured for marine parks.
Beyond Taiji, Japan authorizes the hunting of thousands of small cetaceans annually. For instance, in 2023, the government set a national quota of 10,920 dolphins, with 614 actually caught. The largest quotas are for Dall’s and True’s porpoises in Iwate Prefecture, with thousands authorized, though actual catches are lower.
Whaling Practices
In Another side of Earth, commercial whaling persists despite the IWC’s 1986 moratorium. In 2023, an estimated 1,213 whales were killed globally. Countries like Norway and Iceland continue whaling under objections or reservations to the IWC ban. Norway, for example, has maintained a significant whaling program, while Iceland has issued permits for commercial whaling, planning to kill up to 2,130 whales over five years.
Dolphin Hunting in Other Countries
Dolphin hunting is not exclusive to Japan. In Peru, for instance, between 1,000 and 2,000 dolphins are killed annually for consumption, with an additional 5,000 to 15,000 used as shark bait. Similarly, the Faroe Islands conduct the Grindadráp, an annual hunt resulting in the death of around 800 pilot whales.
Conservation Concerns
These practices have raised significant conservation and ethical concerns. Many of the targeted species are threatened or endangered, and the methods used in hunts, particularly drive hunts, are considered inhumane by animal welfare organizations. Additionally, the consumption of whale and dolphin meat poses health risks due to high levels of mercury and other pollutants.
In summary, while some countries defend whaling and dolphin hunting as cultural traditions, the global trend is moving towards conservation and the protection of marine mammals. International pressure and changing public attitudes continue to challenge the sustainability and ethics of these practices.
The Shift from “Scientific Whaling” to Commercial Whaling
For years, Japan engaged in whaling under the guise of “scientific research,” exploiting a loophole in the IWC’s 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling. Under this pretense, Japan killed thousands of whales, particularly minke and fin whales, claiming that data collected from these hunts was essential for understanding whale populations and marine ecosystems. However, the international community and environmental organizations saw this as a thinly veiled effort to maintain whaling under the cover of science.
In 2019, Japan officially withdrew from the IWC and resumed commercial whaling within its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This marked a significant policy shift and a defiant statement to the global community: Japan would continue whaling, with or without international approval.
Why Won’t Japan Stop Whaling?
There are multiple reasons Japan continues to hunt whales and dolphins despite widespread condemnation. These reasons are a complex blend of cultural identity, economic interests, political resistance to foreign pressure, and bureaucratic momentum.
1. Cultural and Historical Justification
Japan has a centuries-old history of whaling, with coastal communities relying on the practice for survival long before modern commercial whaling. Proponents argue that whaling is a part of Japanese heritage, and criticism from the West is seen as hypocritical and culturally imperialist, particularly from countries that have historically engaged in extensive whaling themselves.
However, it’s crucial to note that modern whaling bears little resemblance to traditional, small-scale coastal whaling. Today’s whaling operations involve large factory ships, sophisticated technology, and industrial-scale hunting methods. Moreover, surveys suggest that whale meat consumption in Japan is at an all-time low, especially among younger generations. Whale meat, once a staple during the post-World War II food shortages, is now largely considered a niche or novelty item.
2. Bureaucratic Inertia and Subsidies
Japan’s whaling industry has become heavily subsidized by the government. These subsidies help maintain jobs and infrastructure tied to whaling, even though the industry is not economically viable on its own. Critics argue that these subsidies reflect bureaucratic inertia rather than genuine public or economic demand.
3. National Sovereignty and Political Defiance
For Japan, whaling has also become a matter of national sovereignty. Foreign criticism, particularly from Western nations, is often perceived as a threat to national identity and self-determination. The more vociferous the international opposition, the more entrenched Japan’s position appears to become.
Which Country Hunts the Most Whales?
Japan is one of the top three whaling nations in the world. The other two major whaling countries are Norway and Iceland.
Norway: Norway conducts commercial whaling and has objected to the IWC moratorium since its inception. It continues to hunt minke whales in the North Atlantic and often kills more whales annually than Japan, though with far less international attention.
Iceland: Iceland also conducts commercial whaling and targets both minke and endangered fin whales. Iceland has a more volatile whaling industry, sometimes suspending and sometimes resuming the hunt depending on political and economic considerations.
However, when dolphin and small cetacean hunts are included in the picture, Japan becomes the largest single site of marine mammal slaughter in the world, particularly due to the scale and brutality of the Taiji dolphin drives.
Which Countries Have Banned Whale Hunting?
Most of the world’s nations have either voluntarily ceased whaling or are signatories to international agreements banning the practice. Countries that have banned commercial whaling or have adhered strictly to the IWC moratorium include:
United States
United Kingdom
Australia
New Zealand
Brazil
India
South Africa
Germany
Mexico
Argentina
In fact, many of these countries are strong advocates for marine conservation and actively participate in international pressure to stop commercial whaling entirely. Australia and New Zealand have led diplomatic efforts and legal actions against Japan, including taking a case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ruled in 2014 that Japan’s Antarctic whaling program was not genuinely scientific.
Why Is Whaling So Bad?
The ethical, ecological, and conservationist arguments against whaling are compelling and backed by decades of scientific research and moral discourse.
1. Cruelty and Animal Welfare
Whaling is inherently brutal. Modern whaling methods often involve explosive harpoons that can take several minutes, or even hours, for a whale to die. Dolphins in drive hunts are stabbed or have their spinal cords severed, leading to prolonged suffering. Numerous veterinary studies have concluded that these methods are inhumane and constitute serious animal welfare violations.
2. Threats to Endangered Species
Several whale species, such as the North Atlantic right whale, blue whale, and fin whale, are still considered endangered. Though some whale populations have shown signs of recovery, hunting, even at small scales, can pose significant risks to already vulnerable species, especially in the context of climate change, plastic pollution, ship strikes, and ocean noise.
3. Ecological Impact
Whales play a vital role in marine ecosystems. They help regulate food chains and contribute to nutrient cycling through a process known as the “whale pump.” Their feces fertilizes phytoplankton, which in turn absorbs carbon dioxide and forms the base of the ocean food web. Whales are also carbon sinks, when they die naturally and sink to the ocean floor, they sequester vast amounts of carbon for centuries. Killing whales reduces this positive environmental impact.
4. Obsolete Economic Rationale
Whaling no longer represents a significant source of food, income, or employment. In Japan, whale meat accounts for less than 0.1% of total meat consumption. Much of the whale meat caught today goes unsold or into storage. With growing interest in eco-tourism and whale watching, many coastal communities have found that protecting whales is more profitable than killing them.
5. Global Public Opinion
The overwhelming majority of the global population supports a ban on whaling. Continued whaling operations, especially by developed nations, are seen as ethically backward and ecologically irresponsible.
The Way Forward: Hope and Resistance
While Japan’s stance on whaling remains firm, there are signs of change. Public support for whaling within Japan is low and continues to decline. Many Japanese people are unaware of the scale and methods of dolphin and whale hunts and express shock when exposed to the realities. Young generations are increasingly disconnected from whale meat culture, and animal welfare is gaining traction as a mainstream issue.
Internationally, grassroots activism, documentaries, and diplomatic efforts continue to keep the pressure on. Organizations like Sea Shepherd, Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), and the Humane Society International are relentless in their advocacy, often working with local Japanese activists to push for reform from within.
Technological alternatives to whaling also offer promise. Synthetic and plant-based seafoods are growing in popularity, reducing the need to exploit marine life. The expansion of protected marine areas, improved satellite tracking, and global conservation frameworks also provide tools for future progress.
Time to End the Hunt
Japan’s whale and dolphin hunts remain the largest and most controversial in the world. While cloaked in arguments of tradition and sovereignty, the practice increasingly appears out of step with modern values and ecological priorities. As the planet faces unprecedented environmental challenges, the protection of sentient, intelligent, and ecologically vital species like whales and dolphins is not just a matter of ethics, it is an urgent necessity.
The path forward may not be easy, but it is clear: sustainable oceans depend on the preservation, not the exploitation, of the creatures that call them home.
