The netting of a juvenile western grey whale off north-east Japan in January brought to four, all female, the number of western grey whales entangled and drowned in nets off Japan since 2005.
Yet in the 10 years up to 2004, only two whales died - and by shore stranding, not netting. Experts at the World Conservation Union have questioned whether there has been 'a change in fishing traps and the behaviour of fishermen'.
Japan's Fisheries Agency has stated that fishermen should not sell meat from trapped western grey whales, in order to encourage best efforts by fishermen to get whales out of traps alive. But no statute exists to enforce the policy.
The western grey whale, which migrates along Asia?s Pacific coasts, is endangered. It was driven to near-extinction by the mid-1960s, since when it has recovered slowly. Only 120 or so are thought to exist, of which only a fifth are reproductive females. |
