Subsequent whale news     Previous whale news 77     Home    Spring 1999 C-paper
Winter 98/99 C-paper80


Monday May 17, 1999  Another day that will live in infamy!
The Makah kill gray whale assisted by US Coast Guard
In spite of the valiant efforts of the brave whale defenders of the Sea Defense Alliance and Sea Shepherd, the Makah have killed.  This atrocity was made possible because the Coast Guard had seized many of the defenders' boats. All through the night they sought in vain for replacements but none were in place to prevent the early morning death.  Those still on the water were not able to reach the scene in time to prevent the kill.  The whale suffered at least two harpoons and at least two shots from the Makah's anti-tank gun.  (Details are not yet clear.)
The Makah have been assisted in locating whales by Coast Guard and media helicopters, at taxpayer expense in the case of the Coast Guard.

The following statement was released today by Washington Congressman Jack Metcalf:  (You might want to send it along with your own comments to your Representative and Senators because only Congress can force the administration to recognize the will of the people which they have been flouting.)

"I was deeply disturbed to learn that the Makah tribe killed a gray whale this morning.  These majestic, intelligent creatures deserve better than to be brutally slaughtered as pawns in a political game being orchestrated by Japanese and Norwegian whaling interests and supported by Clinton/Gore administration.  The untold story is that today, the Japanese and Norwegians have been successful in destroying the United States position as the leading anti-whaling voice.

The outlaw whaling nations of Japan and Norway, reckless in their disregard for marine conservation, have supported this hunt with financial and technical means.  Today's hunt is a victory for Japan and Norway and ultimately a loss for the people of the Makah tribe and America as a whole."

May 11, 1999
JAPAN EXPANDS KILLING OF BOTTLENOSE WHALES in the Sea of Japan off the country's west coast..  According to a forestry and fisheries offical who did not want to be identified, Japan will allow whalers to kill eight bottlenose whales between now and the end of June.  Whales have not been killed there since 1972 although Japanese whalers have been killing them in the Pacific Ocean.


March 23, 1999
Iceland announces plans to resume whaling
Encouraged, perhaps, by US government support of Makah tribe's claim to whaling rights, Iceland has announced that it will resume killing whales after observing the international moratorium for 10 years.  Much of the blame lies on the Clinton/Gore administration.  Gore acquiesced to Norway's whaling.


March 17, 1999
North Atlantic right whales' deaths outnumber births
Canadian news reports that 18 right whales are dying every year compared to only 12 being born.  This is exceedingly serious in a population estimated to have only 300 members.  Most of the deaths are the result of encounters with ships and fishing nets.  The Canadian response is to close some areas to fishing and establish a better reporting system to warn ships of whales in their vicinity.  Also planned is a whale rescue team to respond to reports of injured whales.


January 10, 1999
Sea Wolf needs money to purchase Zodiac
Sea Wolf, one of the organizations that have kept watch to prevent the Makah Tribal Council from carrying out their intention to kill gray whales is in need of a faster boat to respond to possible surprise maneuvers by the Makah now that  most of the individuals and organizations who maintained the watch over Neah Bay for over two months have returned to their normal work.  Wintry seas and gale-force winds make whaling a more dangerous and therefore less likely undertaking than ever, but those who remain on watch will have farther to travel,  now that there are fewer of them, if the Makah renew their efforts. 


January 10, 1999
Gray whale migration delayed, cause undetermined
Mexican environmentalists are concerned that the gray whales have not arrived in San Ignacio Lagoon and the surrounding El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve in their usual numbers.  One individual arrived on November 7, earlier than usual, and another 10 arrived later than usual, but most of the whales have not arrived.  Activists assumed that the whales had safely passed and were on their way to Mexico, but only one whale was was sighted off the coast of Oregon when members of a Mexican group flew along the coast to look for them.  There were reports of a lot of whales off the coast of Alaska, but these were not specifically identified as grays in the news article.

One possible explanation is the massive bloom of coccolithophores, a non-toxic marine plant in the Bering Sea which may have changed the whales' feeding habits.  The warmer sea temperatures caused by El Nino brought about many changes in marine life.  If the whales are remaining in the north, it is uncertain how this will affect any of their young who might be born in cold water instead of the warm water off Mexico. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
previous whale news      subsequent whale  news