What Can we do to Save Whales From Dying Off & Stop Whaling?

It is surprising to many that whaling still exists in any form. This cruel and barbaric practice has decimated whale populations and has many concerned about what we can actually do to save the whales from dying off? How do we work to eliminate whaling for good and why hasn't what has already been put into place been working?

 

While there are several laws, both nationally and internationally, in place as well as treaties and bans involving the practice of whaling a lot of these laws and regulations are riddled with loop holes that make it all too easy for ruthless and unscrupulous whalers to continue their often illegal activities. These laws need to be tightened in order to mend these loopholes and provide more solid protection.

Even with the laws on paper, many international bodies and member nations have been either unable or unwilling to enforce these laws and to punish those who violate them. More power needs to be given to the international bodies such as the IWC to enforce their rules and to severely punish violators. Member nations also need to take a stronger stand and impose sanctions, denying access to their water ways and arresting those who violate these rules, or other punishments against those nations who attempt to continue whaling for any reason.

Greater portions of the ocean that are critical to the survival of whales and other marine life need to be protected where these animals can live in peace and where whalers, fishermen, and other human threats are not permitted.

Greater and stronger international laws need to be put into place to make the harassment, capture, hunting, harm, or killing of marine mammals

and other endangered species illegal in all the waters of the world. Additionally, more cooperation is needed among nations to capture, report, and punish those who violate these laws instead of letting these pirate hunters of the sea go unchecked.

Educating others on the terrible atrocities that are committed by whalers and the dangers that whales face is a critical element in protecting them. There is a lot that the public can do to help change the current fate of whales by writing letters to your own government officials as well as those of offending nations. Boycott products from whaling nations and urge others to do the same and urge your own governments to enact sanctions against those nations. At the same time, write letters to the companies that you choose not to do business with and make it clear that the reason you are refusing their goods is because of their nations whaling practice, this will in turn put more pressure on those governments to cease their actions. Public opinion and involvement can have a great impact and help turn the tides of extinction.

In order to protect whales it will take the effort of everyone getting involved and making a difference. To learn more about how whales are being harmed and what you can do to help save them visit the following resources and organizations:

The Sea Shepherd Society

Greenpeace's Anti-Whaling Campaign

The Stop Whaling Campaign from IFAW