Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Whaling Controversy
For centuries, whaling has been an important tradition in Japan, but in modern times Japan has come into conflict with environmentalists who are campaigning to save the whales.
Whaling in Japan goes back to the time when a sharp hand-held harpoon was the main tool of the trade. Whalers with harpoons did little damage to the whale population as a whole.
In the twentieth century, powerful ships and whaling guns gave whalers a huge advantage over the whales. Whale populations declined, and many whales became endangered.
Environmental groups, including Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd, called for an end to whaling. They said that many types of whales were in danger of becoming extinct. The blue whale, the humpback whale, the fin whale, and the right whale are just some of the endangered whale species.
In 1986, the International Whaling Commission banned all commercial hunting of whales. Some whale hunting was still allowed under special circumstances, including for scientific research. Since it does not have the power to enforce its decisions, the International Whaling Commission depends on the cooperation of member countries.
