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Fin-Whale Meat Auctioned in Japan for the First Time in Half a Century
Japan has taken a huge step in its controversial whaling practices as fin-whale meat was auctioned for the first time in almost 50 years. This milestone follows the addition of fin whales to the list of legally huntable species by Japan's Fisheries Agency earlier this year, marking the expansion of commercial whaling in the country.
A Historic Auction
On Thursday, fin-whale meat was auctioned in two key locations: the Sapporo fish market and Shimonoseki, the home port of Japan's newly launched whaling vessel, Kangei Maru. The prices at auction reflected the delicacy's rarity: The highest bid reached ¥200,000 ($1,312) per kilogram for "onomi," a prized cut of whale tail meat.
This is the first hunt of the species since Japan pulled out of the International Whaling Commission in 2019, after the latter declared fin whales a protected species in 1976. Japan resumed commercial whaling within its exclusive economic zone, saying the recovery and sustainability of stocks was enough to lift the ban on hunting fin whales.
Reviving the Industry
Despite the controversy surrounding whaling, Japan has shown determination to sustain the industry. The Kangei Maru, a 9,300-ton whaling ship worth ¥7.5 billion ($49 million), was launched this year as a part of these efforts. However, the whaling industry faces challenges, including low demand for whale meat and questions about long-term viability without significant government subsidies.
According to the data by Fisheries Agency, while whale meat consumption in Japan peaked in 1962 at 233,000 tons per year, it has declined to just 2,000 tons in recent years. Though officials aspire to raise that to 5,000 tons, experts view this as unrealistic because whale meat is now considered an expensive delicacy, not a source of daily nutrition.
The Debate Continues
Japan's whaling practices have long been criticized globally for their unsound conservation basis by various groups of conservationists. While anti-whaling protests have diminished since the country turned from "research whaling" in Antarctic waters to commercial whaling in its coastal zones, many still hold that these hunts are unsustainable.
Nanami Kurasawa, the leader of the Dolphin & Whale Action Network, opposes the resumption of fin-whale hunts. She has also called for further research into whale populations around Japan's coasts because overhunting in the past is a concern.
Critics also doubt the government's claims of a declining annual catch due to climate change, instead believing overhunting may play a large part.
Future of the Whaling Industry
Despite government efforts to revive the industry, whaling's long-term survival in Japan remains uncertain. Whale meat is much more expensive than beef or pork, for example, and out of the budget of many. "Without large government subsidies, it would be extremely difficult for the industry to be sustainable," says Nobuhiro Kishigami, a professor at the National Museum of Ethnology.
The resumption of hunting fin whales has reopened the debate on whaling globally, as Japan balances its cultural tradition with conservation and sustainability concerns. Whether the industry will survive amid declining demand and increasing scrutiny remains to be seen.
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