Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling

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Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Yay or Nay? By Anne Castiglioni

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Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling. Yay or Nay? By Anne Castiglioni. Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling. Of a different nature than commercial whaling Satisfies subsistence needs of aboriginal peoples from all over the globe - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling

Page 1: Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling

Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling

Yay or Nay? By Anne Castiglioni

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Of a different nature than commercial whaling

Satisfies subsistence needs of aboriginal peoples from all over the globe

Important ancient ritual that dates back thousands of years; central to the survival of populations of aboriginal coastal peoples

Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling

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To ensure that risks of extinction are not seriously increased by whaling

To enable native people to hunt whales at levels appropriate to their cultural and nutritional requirements (also called ‘need’)

To move populations towards and then maintain them at healthy levels

Objectives of Subsistence Whaling

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International Whaling Commission-global intergovernmental body

Charged with the conservation of whales and the management of whaling

Set up under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling signed in 1946

Has a current membership of 89 Governments from countries around the World.

The IWC

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Introduced zero catch limits for commercial whaling

Sets catch limits for aboriginal subsistence whaling

Responsibility of national governments to provide the Commission with evidence of the cultural and subsistence needs of their people

Scientific advice on the sustainability of proposed hunts is provided by the IWC’s Scientific Committee

IWC Policy

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‘Need statements’

The Commission

‘Carry over’

Examples of strike and catch limits

Strike/Catch Limits

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Bowhead whales-taken by native people of Alaska and Chukotka

Gray whales- taken by native people of Chukotka and Washington State

Minke whales- taken by Greenlanders Bowhead whales- taken by Greenlanders Fin whales-taken by Greenlanders Common Minke whales- taken by

Greenlanders Humpback whales-taken by Greenlanders, St

Vincent and The Grenadines

Types of Whales Subsistence Hunted

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Denmark- (Greenland, fin, bowhead, humpback and minke whales)

Russian Federation- (Siberia, gray and bowhead whales)

St Vincent and The Grenadines-(Bequia, humpback whales)

Alaska-(Alaska, bowhead whales; Washington State, gray whales)

Where Subsistence Hunting Occurs

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Nation Area Fin Humpback Sei Gray Minke Bowhead Total

Denmark: W.Greenland

NA 5 8 0 0 179 1 193

Denmark: E.Greenland NA 0 0 0 0 10 0 10

St. Vincent & The Grenadines

NA 0 2 0 0 0 0 2

Russia NP 0 0 0 0 0 128 128

USA NP 0 0 0 0 0 51 51

Total 5 10 0 0 189 180 384

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http://youtu.be/4vz2k1jAhIE

Example of Subsistence Hunting

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Inupiat Eskimos-live in Alaska's Northwest Arctic region, rely heavily on subsistence hunting and fishing

Makah people- live in Washington State, Native American people Their diet consists of whale, seal, fish, and a wide variety of shellfish

Aboriginals that Subsistence Hunt

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Pros◦ Preservation of aboriginal way of life◦ Strike and catch limits allow protection against

overkill of whales◦ Provides many resources for native peoples living

in subsistence whaling areas Cons

◦ Very controversial◦ Double standard? ◦ Animal welfare issues

Pros/Cons of Subsistence Whaling

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Questions?