The Disadvantages of Whaling

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• Countries that decide to engage in whaling have to realize that it is going to bring a considerable amount of outside scrutiny. This holds the potential to paint the country in a very unsympathetic light. Iceland decided in 2010 to resume whaling, and later a report was published by the University of Iceland, Institute of Economic Studies, that presented whaling as an economically viable activity. However, the report was clear to say that further research is also required on what effect this decision might have on the perception of the nation internationally.

Economic Disadvantages

• The growing public outcry against whale meat is causing problems for the whaling industry as well. Japan was previously the primary market for whale meat, but the demand for the food has dropped dramatically, and is making whaling a less profitable business. In 2007, the industry was doing so poorly that several thousand tons of the meat were left without a buyer due to the lack of demand.

Harming Endangered Species

• Whale hunts sometimes include the killing of whales that are included by international law on endangered species lists. For example, two of the three varieties of whale previously hunted by the Icelandic are endangered animals. However, Iceland has shifted away from hunting endangered varieties of whale and now harvest primarily Minke whales. According to the presently available information, Minke whales are not endangered. Hunts that target the Fin or Sei whales on the other hand, damage populations of a species trying to fight off extinction.

Targeting

• Whaling vessels are often the target of activist activity. Boats on whale hunts have been accosted by activists who try to blockade or disable the boats so that the hunt cannot be completed. This has lead to violence at times, such as a 2010 occurrence when a Japanese whaling ship was harassed by activists. The situations resolved when the whaling ship rammed the smaller boat. Although no one was hurt, the confrontations with activists are clearly a concern in the industry.