Is it wrong to kill and eat whales?

Question

Is it any different from killing and eating tuna, trout, shrimp or sardines? I am not talking about endangered whales. Some species are not endangered.

Answer 1

They're mammals, so they can provide red meat like cows do.  They produce a lot less methane than cows, and no forest clearcutting is needed to raise them, so as a food source their global warming impact is much lower.  Some cultures such as the Innuit rely heavily on whales.

Unfortunately their harvesting by commercial fishing boats hasn't been very well managed, so their numbers are way down and in some cases entire species are threatened.  

We don't understand very well what effect removing them has had on the food chain.  Does the removal of filter feeders high in the food chain increase lower level organisms that then overpopulate and contribute to dead zones such as the one off the Oregon Coast?

I don't think that there's anything inherently "wrong" with harvesting whales.  I certainly wouldn't look an Eskimo in the face and try to shame him into becoming a vegetarian.  But I do think that commercial fishing needs to be much more heavily monitored and regulated.  For the foreseeable future the commercial whale harvest may need to be minimized to allow for sustainable and healthy whale populations.

Is it wrong to eat other mammals, such as a cow?  Holy cow, in some places it is!  It depends upon your religion I suppose.

What I think is terribly wrong is for people to develop strong opinions about what should be "right" or "wrong" for other people.  How many people have died fighting for a "just" cause?  As an insidious trait that can lead us to our most violent behavior, our own self righteousness is one of the greatest evils our species faces.

Answer 2

Hi there, i don't think that  there is anything wrong  with whales  being caught and eaten ,  BUT! the hunting method is  outdated  and it causes the animal to suffer allot before it dies, SO ! they should come up with a better method to hunt them, and like any other creature on this planet ,  only sustainable hunting should be allowed, something that i don't believe the Japanese will ever be practising,

Answer 3

No,

  Is in fact there would be more of them once you put limits on how many you can kill then the supply side ecomonics will want to make sure there is enought to meet demand. Soon you will have whale farms in the Great lakes, China, heck they might just start cleaning up the worlds oceans and the gyres to support the population that was present in the 1800's

Answer 4

It all depends on where you live and what you need to survive.

Answer 5

We kill and eat cows, chickens and pigs everyday. What's the difference in killing whales? Would it make people happier if the whales were killed humanely like cattle? Everybody who is against killing animals and then goes and eats a hotdog is a hypocrite.

http://justtofun.blogspot.com/2008/03/wa...

Answer 6

yes it is wrong, because a lot of whale species are endangered animals.

Answer 7

Whale taste nasty.  If there is any good meat in there (protein) you'd have to waste 30 tons of the animal to get to it.  The only animal I know of that really benefits from eating whale blubber is the polar bear.

Answer 8

OF COURSE................would you appreciate a Whale killing and eating YOU?

would that be RIGHT?

would your family deem it Right?

Answer 9

well its not as long as they are not endangered, we dont overfish them and also they are killed humanely.  But then there's nothing wrong with NOT eating them either.

Answer 10

With seasons and limits on whales with a viable populations I see no problems.  Problem is it would have to be a world-wide effort to report all animals harvested.  Greed will inevitably mess it up.

Answer 11

I don't see how its any different from eating a shrimp, sardine, chicken or cow, as long as they are not endangered.

Some people who protest whaling are hypocrites as they eat other animals, or fail to protest shrimping or tuna fishing.  If they want to promote vegearianism (which I am not opposed to) they should try to protect all animals, and not favor one over another.

Answer 12

There are sooo many other things that you could be eating. Why would you want to kill a whale?

Answer 13

Its probably about the same as killing and eating dolphins. So if thats okay, then sure why not.

Answer 14

It is wrong to kill and eat whales, I think. And most species are endangered. If we said that it is okay to kill and eat them, then everyone would do it, and there would be none left, so I strongly disagree.

My regards,

Lily

Answer 15

I dont think its bad if the whale is not endangered. But dont kill too many, thats the main issue with whaling, they just overfish until there is nothing left. There are small villages in Japan that have been eating whales for centuries, and are now being told that they shouldnt be allowed to hunt whale anymore, i dont think thats right. Its like telling an american he cant eat burgers.

Answer 16

No, as long as it is properly managed, it is no different than fishing or other forms of hunting.  Besides, whale meat is very tasty.

Answer 17

what's soooo special about whales?

should'nt you be caring about something else like...um, i dunno,

THE FRIGGIN' WORLD BLOWING UP IN YOUR FACE?

toodles

peace

hippiedew

Answer 18

Nope

Answer 19

yes....ofcrs itz wrong..!! how would you feel if de same happens wid u ?

Answer 20

Yes because whales are sophisticated and intelligent beings.  Please check out www.seashephard.com

Answer 21

I'll tell you one thing it is... sick

Answer 22

They're are becoming extinct, so yes it's illmoral to kill and eat whales. I wouldn't see why someone would do such an act.

Answer 23

i am sure it is a delicacy in some countries

and it really isn't any different from eating any of those mentioned they were all living things once and we the HUMANS decided to consume them

so go on and consume eat anything thing you like

as we are human that's what we do consume

Answer 24

it definetly is wrong. because they are alive they can breath. they are one part of these big world and now if we kill them,in fact we distroy our world with our hands.

Answer 25

Yes, it is wrong..it is wrong to eat certain types of seafood too if they are declining, or over-fished. There are certain lists many people who are environmentally conscious go by when choosing which type of seafood they will eat:

http://blueocean.org/seafood/

http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.as...

Answer 26

It IS wrong to kill whales. There is considerable difference between them and fish. They are mammals with a proven and exeptional intelligence. They are NOT fish and they are MUCH more intelligent. They are SO intelligent that some species have been able to establish rudimentary languages with their keepers and invent new tricks, as well as comunicate complex knowledge to each other.