The killing of whales in Antarctic waters has ceased thanks to a recent ruling by the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
At the beginning of April Radio New Zealand reported that:
'The court at The Hague ruled that Japan's killing, taking and treating of whales in the Antarctic is not for the purposes of scientific research and it must stop all whaling with immediate effect.'
www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/240318/nz-says-whale-ruling-could-set-precedent
This decision may also influence subsequent rulings relating to whaling in other parts of the world.
While this is certainly good news for whales, what about other sea creatures? Do they also need protection?
For example Wayne Macfarlane recently landed a 415kg Pacific Bluefin Tuna.
Here is a picture of Wayne's catch: tvnz.co.nz/national-news/monster-bluefin-tuna-weighed-415kg-5362827
The article goes on to report that:
'There were celebrations after they landed the tuna. 'The boys were amping, they were going off,'' Wayne said.
His father, Dugal, said it was the biggest tuna he'd seen. 'And I've fished all my life... it was a pretty amazing fish.'
Wayne's father is correct. The Pacific Bluefin Tuna is an amazing fish, surely just as amazing as the whales of the Southern Ocean?
While one is a mammal and one is a fish, both inhabit the same environment and according to SAFE 'Fish are sentient animals (meaning they are conscious), with intelligence and emotions, and they also display complex social behaviours. Scientific research conclusively shows that fish feel pain.'
Read more about the sophisticated lives of fish here: http://safe.org.nz/issue/fish
Is it right that we go to enormous lengths to protect one ocean dweller while at the same time continue to hunt and kill others?
Are whales and fish sufficiently different for it not to matter about fish welfare or is this a clear case of humans acting inconsistently?
To be consistent surely we should either hunt and eat all sea creatures or none?
What do you think? What should we do?
Image source
It is proposed that more steps should be made to protect all sea creatures from being hunted by humans.