Since commercial whaling was banned in 1986, more than 31,000 whales have been slaughtered, over 17,000 by Japanese whalers alone.
Commercial whaling led to the decimation of whale populations throughout the world’s oceans until a ban was finally introduced in 1986. Now this ban is under threat and the fight to protect the world’s whales from this cruel, unsustainable and unnecessary practice has never been more urgent. WDCS will attend the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission to argue for the maintenance and enforcement of the whaling ban.  But there is another crisis for whales on the horizon.

The cousins of “our” Whale Adoption Family whales are now in the firing line.  Greenland wants to expand its Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling quota to kill 10 humpbacks a year. WDCS does not believe Greenland can justify this quota increase and is calling on governments to strongly oppose the proposal.

“While most whales stay loyal to the feeding region they were brought to as a calf, there is evidence of specific individuals moving between feeding areas. If Greenland’s quota request is approved by the IWC, some of the whales watched in New England at risk from hunting, should they choose to visit the waters off West Greenland instead next summer.” – Sue Rocca, WDCS Biologist

Right now, during this year’s International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting, WDCS has placed posters around Boston asking for support to stop the humpback hunt.  Add your voice to ours and say NO to Greenland’s quota increase.

Add your voice to ours and say NO to the whalers.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
• Raise funds for WDCS so we can attend IWC meetings and work on this issue throughout the year to make sure your voice is heard! Donate Now!
• Download copies of the Boston poster to put up around your town to spread the word!
• Write to President Obama (The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 or email him here and tell him you want the US to oppose the Greenland proposal.

Dear Mr. President,

I write to draw your attention to an important matter upon which the US may have to vote at the forthcoming meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

Denmark will submit a proposal to increase Greenland’s Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling quota by ten humpback whales a year. I agree with WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, that Greenland is not able to substantiate its claim to need more whale meat and I urge the USA to reject this proposal.

'Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling' is intended to meet the cultural and nutritional subsistence needs of indigenous people who have a longstanding reliance on whale products. However, whale meat and blubber from Greenland’s hunts are commercialized; sold in supermarkets across the whole territory. This strongly suggests that their existing quota provides a surplus, not a deficit, and does not need to be increased.  Furthermore, for decades, Greenland’s hunters have not taken the full quota available to them; this too indicates that they do not need more whales.

In addition, Greenland kills 4,000 dolphins, porpoises and small whales every year for food, but these animals are not taken into account by the IWC when it calculates how many whales are needed to meet Greenland’s needs.

On these grounds alone, I think Greenland’s proposal should be rejected, but I am even more concerned by the proposal since the humpback whales to be targeted are part of the same breeding population of humpback whales that are the staple of East Coast whale watching in the United States where more than a dozen companies offer trips from Maine through Cape Cod, support a multi-million dollar tourist industry for the region.

For the sake of the whales and reflecting the interests of American citizens in protecting the natural resources on which our economy relies, I urge the USA to reject this proposal by Greenland. 

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

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