Petition to End Whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary

We, the undersigned, agree that whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary must come to an end. This Sanctuary is considered a safe-zone under IWC regulations. The Northern boundary of the sanctuary follows the 40%uFFFDS parallel of latitude except in the Indian Ocean sector where it joins the southern boundary of the Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary at 55%uFFFDS, and around South America and into the South Pacific where the boundary is at 60%uFFFDS.

Continually, we see Japanese Whaling Vessels coming below the 60%uFFFDS latitude and hunt for whale. It is obvious that whales are captured, however the rouse of "Scientific Research" must come to a stop. As the saying goes, "All things, must have an end". The time has more than come for whaling to end in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary.

The meaning, Scientific Research, refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.To be termed "scientific", a method of inquiry must be based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. A scientific method consists of the collection of data through observation and experimentation, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses. To date, the Institute of Cetacean Research has not formely proposed any findings conducted on whale research on whales hunted and captured in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary. Considering the ICR's website and subsequent findings, all reports were given only on Minke Whales caught off the North Pacific Coasts of Japan near Sanriku and Kushiro. There has been no mention of the Humpback Whales that were captured and slaughtered, nor any information about the Fin Whales that have also been captured and slaughtered.

To my knowledge, the whaling fleet does not observe, only hunt. They do not collect empirical evidence, only refute and attack anyone who stands in their way. Scientific Research stops becoming research when you place human lives at risk. Instead, it becomes an offensive act, as in war, to show the use of force and to repel anyone from stopping harpooning vessels. Please refer to the incident regarding the Shonan Maru #2 vs Ady Gil collision where 6 crewmembers lives were placed at risk. This is not research.

Furthermore, the ICR goes on to say that scientists have been involved in other research, but this research remains to be published. The Institute of Cetacean Research goes so far as to call the hunt "Research plan proposal for the 2009/10 IWC/Southern Ocean Whale and Ecosystem (SOWER) cruise." I highly doubt that what the whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean is doing can be considered a cruise. This is slaughter. The deckhands on the vessels sent into the Southern Ocean Sanctuary hardly look like scientists. To answer the question, "How is Japan breaking an International Moratorium?" one must consider that, although granted access to the sanctuary for Scientific Research by the IWC, there is no basis for scientific studies. Still, no reports have been published about the findings and yet, the whale meat ends up being consumed. Using the formulation above on how to compute a scientific model, it is hardly fitting to assume that Japan is in fact conducting any research at all. This would mean that whales are being hunted commercially.

In doing so, Japan is also in violation of the Antarctic Treaty, specifically Articles 3, 6 and Article 10. Article 3 is interpreted to preclude all scientists in the area described as 60%uFFFDS and below, to provide and share all scientific research conducted. As the ICR is non-compliant on this article, Japan is in violation. Article 6 identifies the parameters under which you may claim your stake for the name of science, and again, there has not been a study conducted that can be produced about whaling under 60%uFFFDS. Article 10 calls for any nation within the treaty to discourage any nation in the treaty from violating the treaty. You are hereby called upon the cease and desist from members of the entire world.

There is a time for change in the loophole that allows for "Scientific Research" to be concluded. That time has come. We implore you to take the corrective actions necessary to end whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary, and/or slaughtering whales that are considered to be "endangered". We call for the end whaling in the Sanctuary and the end of whaling in all oceans around the world. We've learned enough from our mistakes; let's not create more lessons that need to be learned.