PETITION CLOSED

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Tell Officials to Protect Whales From Lethal "Research"
  1. Signatures
    1,091 out of 10,000
    Petitioning
    1. The President of the United States (+ 3 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The President of the United States
      • The U.S. Senate
      • The U.S. House of Representatives
      • International Whaling Commission
  2. Created By
    R E
    Minneapolis, MN
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

The International Whaling Commission banned commercial whaling in 1986. Under the ban, whaling for indigenous people and for scientific research are still legal. Japan, Norway, and Iceland continue to hunt 3,000 whales every year. 

Japan's whaling season begins Friday, November 5th. This year, they plan to hunt 935 minke whales, 50 endangered humpback whales, and 50 endangered fin whales.

Japan claims the killings are necessary for scientific research. Non-lethal methods are available to collect data on whales, but Japan still says it must slaughter the whales to obtain the best data. However, with failure to produce any significant data or meet their "research" goals, the IWC has deemed the hunts unnecessary. Yet they continue.

It is now largely accepted that Japan uses research as an excuse for commercial whaling, as whale meat is considered a delicacy in the country. 

Tell the IWC and the U.S. Government to close the loophole in the whaling ban. The whales of our oceans must be protected before they are gone. 

Photo credit: nestor galina

Recent Signatures

Close the Research Whaling Loophole

Greetings,

I am writing to urge you to close the loophole for research whale hunts and enforce the international ban on commercial whaling.

As you know, Japan uses the claim of "scientific research" to hunt about 1,000 whales every year. With no significant data produced since the ban of commercial whaling went into effect, the loophole must be closed. Non-lethal methods of research are largely available and accurate.

The hunting of endangered species, such as the humpback whale, is unacceptable regardless of the reason. Today, whales face many dangers including pollution, climate change and overfishing. While many whales hunted are not listed as endangered, how long will it take until they are? We must protect the animals of this planet before they vanish and become only a memory.

Please ban all whaling in order to stop the unnecessary killings and ensure the survival of our great whales. Thank you.

[Your name]

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