david@tokyo
先輩
- 11 Nov 2006
- 62
- 0
Analysis of official frozen marine product stockpile figures published by The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries indicate that whale meat consumption has been rising in Japan annually for the 3 years for which figures are available, contrasting strongly with reports western media to the contrary.
The increasing consumption figures reconcile with recent Japanese media reports of increasing sales through supermarkets and restaurant chains. Icelandic commercial whalers have recently stated that they wish to sell some of their approximately 100 tonnes of fin whale meat to the Japanese market, indicating their belief that there is a market for additional whale meat.
The statements appearing in the western media have incorrectly interpreted increasing stockpile levels as indicating a lack of demand in the Japanese market. Consumption trends cannot be derived by examining increasing stockpiles, which have recently seen increases in supply due to the JARPA II research programme. The number of whales taken roughly doubled. This information tells us only about the supply side. Consumption trends, on the other hand, are indicated by volumes of outgoing frozen whale meat stocks. These volumes have, in fact, been increasing, not decreasing.
Some still point to year on year increases in the stockpile level, but this is because the whale meat is not consumed immediately once it arrives on the stockpiles. Whaling is a seasonal activity. Current consumption trends indicate that by February 2007, the level of stocks remaining in frozen storage will likely decrease compared to 2006 and 2005. From 2007/2008 onwards, supply levels will again stabilise due to the full commencement of the JARPA II research programme.
CONCLUSION: There is a strong demand for whale meat in Japan. It's important for the proper conservation of target whale stocks that global whaling activities be properly regulated with international oversight, such as by the IWC, to ensure that whaling operations are sustainable and that whaling operators do not exceed scientifically agreed catch limits.
(All figures are available at my blog at david-in-tokyo.blogspot.com)
The increasing consumption figures reconcile with recent Japanese media reports of increasing sales through supermarkets and restaurant chains. Icelandic commercial whalers have recently stated that they wish to sell some of their approximately 100 tonnes of fin whale meat to the Japanese market, indicating their belief that there is a market for additional whale meat.
The statements appearing in the western media have incorrectly interpreted increasing stockpile levels as indicating a lack of demand in the Japanese market. Consumption trends cannot be derived by examining increasing stockpiles, which have recently seen increases in supply due to the JARPA II research programme. The number of whales taken roughly doubled. This information tells us only about the supply side. Consumption trends, on the other hand, are indicated by volumes of outgoing frozen whale meat stocks. These volumes have, in fact, been increasing, not decreasing.
Some still point to year on year increases in the stockpile level, but this is because the whale meat is not consumed immediately once it arrives on the stockpiles. Whaling is a seasonal activity. Current consumption trends indicate that by February 2007, the level of stocks remaining in frozen storage will likely decrease compared to 2006 and 2005. From 2007/2008 onwards, supply levels will again stabilise due to the full commencement of the JARPA II research programme.
CONCLUSION: There is a strong demand for whale meat in Japan. It's important for the proper conservation of target whale stocks that global whaling activities be properly regulated with international oversight, such as by the IWC, to ensure that whaling operations are sustainable and that whaling operators do not exceed scientifically agreed catch limits.
(All figures are available at my blog at david-in-tokyo.blogspot.com)