whaling

[Mrs Sweepy]

now to be totally honest .i do not know alot about this sudject . i should really its very bad of me not to.but i was just wondering what other peoples views on it was . now i must admit out of all the creatures on this earth . the whale is my favourite. it is so graceful and one of the most beautiful creatures i think on this planet . and i hope that someday i will be able to see then in real life . that is one of my lifes wishes .

so this has got me thinking about whaling .especially seeming it is so much in the news at the moment. is it still necessary to hunt these creatures .and if so what are your views on the way its carry out . now i think you all know me by now to know am not a anti . but i must admit this one really do bother me . so please i would really love to know is it just me or do others feel the same way about it . or can someone explain to me why their is still a need to kill these beautiful creatures

suzy

 

 

 

 

 

p.s you have to admit one of the most beautiful and haunting sounds on this earth is the whale song

[Guest The Outlaw]

I have no reason to hunt them, I wouldnt eat thier meat and they arent vermin so they are off the list.

 

About Whale song, Calam in the bath is just as good

 

How did it go at the doctors the other day.

 

Tony

[Suffolk shooter]

Suzy, you are not alone in worrying about certain animals. We're not all blood crazed sociopaths looking to wipe out the universes life forms with a shotgun/air-rifle/rifle.

 

My missus loves Dolphins, and has done since she was little, similar problems to the whales in some respects.

 

Regarding whales I don't feel there is any need to hunt these animals what so ever, but that's a point of view from our westernised culture. The Asian countries see it differently according to their ancestral upbringing and belief, and of course food history.

 

There is no reason that when carefully managed, that any animal cannot be harvested/culled on an annual basis to some extent, but it's the means of doing so that gets my goat more than anything.

 

Harpoons etc for whales is not on really in this day and age, its barbaric, they must be able to do it in a more humane manner surely. Seeing footage of bloody salty froth, and a struggling leviathan being slowly hauled onto the back of the boat/ship is not good press. The same goes for sharks that they catch, then cut the fins off and throw them back overboard. The sharks sinks slowly to the bottom of the sea unable to swim and pass oxygen over its gills, slowly suffocating.

 

I guess that whilst I am not anti, there are certain things that morally we all feel are wrong somewhere around the world, and anybody who says they don't have any problems what so ever shouldn't be allowed to breath themselves. Shooters in this country have the future generations quarries lives in their hands and need to respect and carryout conservation work on their behalf to ensure they are still around for yours to come.

 

SS

[Guest The Outlaw]

Suzy, you are not alone in worrying about certain animals. We're not all blood crazed sociopaths looking to wipe out the universes life forms with a shotgun/air-rifle/rifle.

 

My missus loves Dolphins, and has done since she was little, similar problems to the whales in some respects.

 

Regarding whales I don't feel there is any need to hunt these animals what so ever, but that's a point of view from our westernised culture. The Asian countries see it differently according to their ancestral upbringing and belief, and of course food history.

 

There is no reason that when carefully managed, that any animal cannot be harvested/culled on an annual basis to some extent, but it's the means of doing so that gets my goat more than anything.

 

Harpoons etc for whales is not on really in this day and age, its barbaric, they must be able to do it in a more humane manner surely. Seeing footage of bloody salty froth, and a struggling leviathan being slowly hauled onto the back of the boat/ship is not good press. The same goes for sharks that they catch, then cut the fins off and throw them back overboard. The sharks sinks slowly to the bottom of the sea unable to swim and pass oxygen over its gills, slowly suffocating.

 

I guess that whilst I am not anti, there are certain things that morally we all feel are wrong somewhere around the world, and anybody who says they don't have any problems what so ever shouldn't be allowed to breath themselves. Shooters in this country have the future generations quarries lives in their hands and need to respect and carryout conservation work on their behalf to ensure they are still around for yours to come.

 

SS

Couldnt of put it better well said SS

 

Tony

[dustyfox]

These creatures takes years to grow, thats why I am against whaling. Once their gone their gone there's no re introducing them.

 

Most countries have stopped whaling but the ones who do are ignorent and only think about themselves. they can make some money from whale watching.

[lurcherboy]

Their number have recovered sufficiently to support some harvesting.

 

It will be down to Japan now to be sensible and not go over the top but they should admit that its for the table and not scientific research 'cos they ain't fooling anyone with that ****

 

 

 

LB

[Oly]

Before I start I think most know my views on shooting and wildlife management - I wouldn't ever shoot the last fox on my land - even if asked - even though most on here say that for every fox you kill two come to it's funeral etc etc - I am a BIG wildlife/environment manager (it's part of what I do for a living and it's what I'm chartered in).

 

I would say before casting judgement go to Iceland and ask them. They make far more money from their tourist whale watching than they do from their culling but they HAVE to do it. In EXACTLY the same way that we need to cull foxes etc. Fish are their sheep and whales are their foxes. If you go to Iceland they will GARENTEE that you will see whales (even blues at the right time of year too!). They only cull Minkie's for which they have literally 1000's - in an area that is unsustainable for them to live comfortably. And I know that they could move on - but it's the same as deer - sometimes they just can't/don't for reasons beyond us...and that results in a declining health of the population.

 

I agree that some of the methods of whaling may seem a bit barbaric, but it's just like fox hunting (in the good old days) - both in my eyes are a little barbaric - HOWEVER, it is worth it for the benefit they provide - which is that a healthy animal will escape, an old or mangy animal will be caught and the populations overall health will be the better for it as your weeding out the weak and letting the healthy live.

 

Just because one areas population of whales is in decline doesn't mean that another area doesn't have a problem with them. Maybe we should be looking at our waters, our fleet, our use of ultrasonics, our fish stocks (how many on here still eat/take cod for example?), and the pollution in our waters before we judge others.

 

I speak only for my experience in Iceland where they manage their waters inpecably, have good sustainable fish stocks, a well regulated and balanced fleet, and excellent environmental record - if we looked after our waters in such a manner maybe we would see a better marine ecosystem (inc. whales) as a result.

 

OK - I'll get off my soap box now!

[tosspot]

In certain parts of India the cow is sacred, where we on the other hand farm them for slaughter by the thousand

 

just because "we" perceive an animal to be cute ie whales and dolphins, should that mean "we" should impose our beliefs rigidly upon other cultures where they do not share the same attitude

 

we harvest many things from plants to livestock, done sensibly without upsetting the balance should be no problem

 

on the continent horse meat is commonplace should they stop too

 

if we are not careful here "we" may become no different to those who do not understand shooting and country sports and want them banned

 

TP

[jimdfish]

If the Japanese were to use the whales for food the so be it.

If the Japanese hunted the whales in their own territorial waters instead of thousand of miles away then the good husbandry that the icelanders show may be a valid point.

The truth is this, there are quite literally whalemeat mountains in Japan and they cannot give the stuff away. Nursing homes are the only people who will take it as the young will not entertain the thought of eating it

Why kill wales then?

You will notice that when the current ruling party in Japan is under pressure for seeming to bow to outside influence( the UN, America etc) or it has a spat with Korea or China and is senn to lose, then a whaling they will go.

Whaling is used as political posturing, flexing their scrawny muscles so as not to lose face, the ultimate Japanese fear.

I am not an anti, I do not think however if their is not a market for the meat and they are not in your waters you should leave the big ******* alone.

JDF

[Cranfield]

"Do you support whaling ?", should be a simple question, but it opens up so many tangental arguments that it becomes very complex.

 

What right have we to interfere with other Countries customs/policies/industry/practices etc ?

Just because we don't eat whale meat, that doesn't mean others shouldn't.

 

Are all whale species threatened, everywhere around the World ?

Just because we don't have many, that doesn't mean there isn't a glut somewhere else.

 

Is it because whales are mammals (like dolphins), that they attract such sympathy ?

Cows are mammals, but we eat them and before someone says "but they are farmed", we also kill and eat other wild mammals.

 

Is it because they are inhumanely harpooned and "bleed to death" ?

What about fish trawled in a net that are then "drowned" on a boats deck, or the way other table meats are slaughtered ?

 

I think the safest thing I can say is that I wouldn't go whaling, I wouldn't eat whale meat and have paid good money to go whale watching.

[Axe]

Having seen the brutal Dolphin video that was put up last year, which near on made me sick literally. I have to say that the Japenese seem devoid of emotion when it comes to death. Especially a creature like the whale. The report mentioned the killing of 1000 whales in the name of research, I mean what are the researching, how quick it takes people to react to this news??

 

I do respect that other countries have different values and customs, but that still doesnt make it right in my eye.

[al4x]

I'm a bit up in the air about this as I know some people hate what we do and I don't know enough about whaling to argue for or against it. Obviously Axe has a point with the dolphins but that is a sign of the different culture.

The only point I've got to add is from this morning on TV when they showed our fishing fleet throws back into the water dead about 50% of what it catches due to the quotas imposed and fish sizes etc. While we're doing this I really can't see the UK should be preaching to other countries

[Axe]

Its not the UK governing body that has set the fisheries catch size its the European Government. However, I do concede that it does make us look very hypocritical.

[markbivvy]

if its not wasted, in danger, and done humainly, i don't have a lot of a problem with it.

I shoot a lot of foxes a year , why should people in another country tell me not to.

we all harvest the world different.

[Keith]

I'm with Oly and Suffolk Shooter on this one. Where something is endangered and there is also no need for something to be hunted either as a pest or a vital food source, then why do it?

 

It would probably be pretty well impossible given their size to have a quick way of killing whales - when we have to kill something it should be done as quickly as possible.

 

I see the point about the fish "discarding". The quota system is crazy as you cannot, as a trawlerman, guarantee that5 you won't catch a particular fish. You either forget the quotas or have "no fishing" areas or seasons, as the quotas just lead to waste.

[al4x]

Its not the UK governing body that has set the fisheries catch size its the European Government. However, I do concede that it does make us look very hypocritical.

 

 

It certainly is the EU but we do get a say and we always have the chance of getting out of it all together.

 

I guess we can all suffer fluffy fox syndrome with whales and as we don't like to eat them its all to easy to have happen. Where it is sustainable I can't see a problem its just how on earth you keep it to a sustainable level

[mel b3]

Their number have recovered sufficiently to support some harvesting.

 

It will be down to Japan now to be sensible and not go over the top but they should admit that its for the table and not scientific research 'cos they ain't fooling anyone with that ****

 

 

 

LB

 

i'm with chas on this one.

 

i can see no harm in helping yourself to a sustainable food source , just cut the research rubbish and don't be stupid enough to wipe them out.

[starlight32]

Having seen the brutal Dolphin video that was put up last year, which near on made me sick literally. I have to say that the Japenese seem devoid of emotion when it comes to death. Especially a creature like the whale. The report mentioned the killing of 1000 whales in the name of research, I mean what are the researching, how quick it takes people to react to this news??

 

I do respect that other countries have different values and customs, but that still doesnt make it right in my eye.

 

 

You got that right for use. The japanese culture has no allowance for emotion- If is to be killed then it will be.

 

Just look at the events carried out in World war II

[dustyfox]

Mind you this could keep some of the anti's off our back, but very unlikely.

[ronan nee]

"Do you support whaling ?", should be a simple question, but it opens up so many tangental arguments that it becomes very complex.

 

What right have we to interfere with other Countries customs/policies/industry/practices etc ?

Just because we don't eat whale meat, that doesn't mean others shouldn't.

 

Are all whale species threatened, everywhere around the World ?

Just because we don't have many, that doesn't mean there isn't a glut somewhere else.

 

Is it because whales are mammals (like dolphins), that they attract such sympathy ?

Cows are mammals, but we eat them and before someone says "but they are farmed", we also kill and eat other wild mammals.

 

Is it because they are inhumanely harpooned and "bleed to death" ?

What about fish trawled in a net that are then "drowned" on a boats deck, or the way other table meats are slaughtered ?

 

I think the safest thing I can say is that I wouldn't go whaling, I wouldn't eat whale meat and have paid good money to go whale watching.

 

 

well said cranners

 

regards ronan

[Mrs Sweepy]

right i have just spent the last hour reading up on whaling . so i now know a bit more about it then i did yesterday.i understand a lot of it down to cultures and tradition .and i personally feel that we as country have no rights to tell any country what they can and cant do if it is part of there culture .

i also understand that the main reason for slaughterling these beautiful creatures is for whale meat .and not for oil which used to be the main reason for centuries .personally i do not agree with it .hence why i have spent the last few days thinking about it and trying to find out as much about it as i can . my one big problem with it all is the way that they are killed . i understand by what i have read the main way of killing them is by explosive harpoons .which when fired puncture the skin of the whale .then explode inside the body .this is not always guarantee to kill them out right and they can take from several mins or up to several hours to die .

i have tryed to find out if there are more humane ways . but unfortunatey their do not seem to be :blink: . thank you for sharing your views and feelings on this sudject with me .

suzy

[Mungler]

To an extent what goes on in another Country that doesn't affect the security of the UK should not be our business. History shows that telling other countries what to do has got us in to a degree of bother. That being said I wouldn't say I was a fan of Japanese culture and wouldn't support them in anything in particular. Their failure to recognise war crimes (let alone apologise) is disgraceful. I digress...

[The Great Cornholio]

Nothing to add here....

Just spent the last half hour reading through. Very interesting. I now know a whole lot more than I did half hour ago.

Thanks.

[Lord Geordie]

now to be totally honest .i do not know alot about this sudject . i should really its very bad of me not to.but i was just wondering what other peoples views on it was . now i must admit out of all the creatures on this earth . the whale is my favourite. it is so graceful and one of the most beautiful creatures i think on this planet . and i hope that someday i will be able to see then in real life . that is one of my lifes wishes .

so this has got me thinking about whaling .especially seeming it is so much in the news at the moment. is it still necessary to hunt these creatures .and if so what are your views on the way its carry out . now i think you all know me by now to know am not a anti . but i must admit this one really do bother me . so please i would really love to know is it just me or do others feel the same way about it . or can someone explain to me why their is still a need to kill these beautiful creatures

suzy

 

 

 

 

 

p.s you have to admit one of the most beautiful and haunting sounds on this earth is the whale song

 

 

In My humble opinion they are following a past time like WE do while shooting.

 

Whale hunting was part of our OWN past so who are we to critisise others for doing what we ourselves used to do.

 

As for the Whales being a beautiful creature I quite agree with you but unfortunatley some OTHER cultures revere other animals as the same such as Cows and Pigs etc but WE kill and use those animals for meat among other things but they don't try telling US we can't and shouldn't do that.

 

It's the same argument about cultures who kill cats and dogs for food. We think it's barbaric in the way they are slaughtered but to THOSE cultures it's totally ordinary.

 

In relation to the Whales I think the countries who do NOT whale and who WISH to protect them should ban fishing the whales in their waters ONLY. There is an Island north of the UK (I forget the name) where they have a hunt every year and slaughter the whales in their own harbour by the hundreds and even the Kids join in. It's been THEIR tradition since Viking days and the whole harbour turns red.

 

Personally I think it is NOT our place to pass judgement on other societies for the way in which they go about their hunts.

 

We were going OFF about the Fox hunting ban!! Look at how much resentment WE had pent up when we had people telling us WE couldn't hunt foxes anymore!!!

 

LG