Whale of a Dispute.Don't hunt endangered whales! That's the message the U.S. wants Japan to hear loud and clear. Many people in Japan say that eating whale meat is a part of their culture. Japan is the world's largest consumer of whale meat. Currently, the Japanese hunt Minke whales, which are not endangered. But the Japanese want to expand their hunting to include Bryde's whales Bryde’s Whales are the least-known and in many ways the most unusual of the rorquals. They are small by rorqual standards—no more than about 25 tonnes—prefer tropical and temperate waters to the polar seas that other whales in their family frequent; are largely and sperm whales. Both are protected by U.S. law, and the sperm whale is on the endangered list. Fifteen nations, including the U.S., have asked Japan not to hunt these whales. In August, the U.S. boycotted a meeting of environment ministers in Japan. Japan's foreign ministry said that the U.S. is on the wrong track. "Boycotting the meeting is not a good thing for the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , which puts so much emphasis on environmentalism environmentalism, movement to protect the quality and continuity of life through conservation of natural resources, prevention of pollution, and control of land use. ," said a foreign-ministry spokesman. "It also will not help solve the whaling whaling, the hunting of whales for the oil that can be rendered from their flesh, for meat, and for baleen (whalebone). Historically, whale oil was economically the most important. Early Whaling Whaling for subsistence dates to prehistoric times. issue." U.S. Commerce Secretary Norman Mineta warned that the U.S. would take "very strong action" if Japan hunts the endangered whales. The U.S. may impose trade sanctions Trade sanctions are trade penalties imposed by one or more countries on one or more other countries. Typically the sanctions take the form of import tariffs (duties), licensing schemes or other administrative hurdles. on Japan, cutting down on imports of fish and other Japanese products. |
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