Terrence McLaughlin Dr. Sarah Triffo Culinary Transformations 12 April 2016
Tradition and Rationalization Introduction For approximately 40,000 years, human civilization has relied on the practice of fishing to provide a major source of food. While fish are considered an important source of protein and a staple of our diets, society has only now thought to question the morality of this primitive practice. Over the last century, the animal rights movement has transformed the way society treats nonhuman animals. With the philosophy that all nonhuman animals should be entitled to certain rights, some activists have criticized the practices of the fishing industry (The Cove). Among the many controversies regarding animal rights within this particular food industry, one that has gained a great deal of public attention in recent years surrounds the killing of dolphins and whales for both commercial and recreational purposes (Wakatsuki). These practices exist in cultures around the world and often stems from a desire to follow traditional cultural practices (Walsh). The controversy of dolphin killing and “whaling,� the hunting and killing of whales, is primarily focused on the issues of sustainability and conservation. The debate also highlights the health risks of consuming dolphin and whale meat, their mental capacity as highly intelligent mammals, and the level of suffering which these animals undergo
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when they’re caught and killed. Though these arguments express a range of concerns, pro-whaling advocates disregard much of these assertions and claim that there is nothing wrong with following these traditional practices (Dawn). Additionally, they see no health threats associated with consuming dolphin and/or whale meat, and equate the practice of whaling with any other form of modern animal hunting (Iyengar).
Cultural Defense For centuries, ancient cultures around the world have participated in countless traditional practices that may now seem abhorrent. For example, many Amazonian tribes in South America have traditionally participated in cannibalism. Even more to the point, there are a number of Native American tribes in the U.S. that participate in whaling throughout Alaska as part of ancient cultural traditions (Walsh). However, these practices are sanctioned by governments around the world because they lack the legal authority to enforce laws on native peoples (The Cove). Nonetheless, there are examples of these cultural practices that occur on a much larger scale, rather than in a small, secluded communities. In Japan, for instance, the government recognizes whaling, specifically dolphin killing, as an act of tradition. In 2014, Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, stated that, "Dolphin hunting is an ancient practice rooted in the Japanese culture and supports the livelihood of the Japanese people. In every country and region, there are practices and ways of living and culture that have been handed down from ancestors. Naturally, I feel that they should be respected,� (Zakaria).
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The Japanese government supports the practice for a number of other reasons. According to Japan’s current Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, whaling allows for scientific research to be conducted in accordance with international law (Walsh). Additionally, other Japanese government officials have claimed that the use of dolphin and whale meat as a source of food is a cornerstone of the traditional Japanese diet, and that impeding on the rights of Japanese fishermen would negatively affect the local economies of towns that heavily rely on the practice (Iyengar). While Japan isn’t the only country that recognizes this tradition, it’s the most vocal of any nation that does; and comparatively, Japan is similar to many of the nations that voice the most amount of criticism. In defense of these practices, Japan cites countless examples of industrial food processing in nations like the U.S. and countries throughout Europe that they believe equates with the slaughter of dolphins and whales (Dawn).
Irrational Cruelty While the Japanese government has tirelessly defended the position that dolphin killing and whaling are legal and culturally significant, the international community has, generally speaking, disregarded this argument as uninformed and irrational (Wakatsuki). Government officials from Australia, the U.S., France, and the U.K. have all released public statements speaking out against these practices. With most practitioners unwilling to compromise or abide by any international prohibition, both dolphin killing and whaling still continue in surprising numbers. According to one estimate by The
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Dolphin Project, a non-profit organization that supports an international ban on the killing of dolphins, about 22,000 dolphins are killed each year in Japan (Butterworth). In addition to governments, many animal rights and environmental protection organizations publicly condemn the practices, asserting that, the killing of dolphins is disgraceful for a number of reasons. The emotional argument of those protesting dolphin killing often stems from the cruel nature that these practices implement. In fact, one particular occurrence of dolphin killing in Japan has garnered a great deal of attention, specifically due to the way it’s conducted. Each year, in the small southern Japanese fishing town of Taiji, fishermen utilize a hunting technique known as “driving,” causing hundreds of dolphins to be trapped and eventually killed within a confined space. A detailed explanation of driving, featured in the documentary film, The Cove, is mentioned below: One end of a steel pipe is lowered into the water, and the fisherman aboard the boats strike the pipe with mallets. This is done at strategic points around the pod, in an effort to herd them toward land. The clamor disrupts the dolphin's sonar throwing off their navigation and herds them towards the bay which leads to a sheltered cove. There, the fishermen quickly close off the area with nets to prevent the dolphin's escape. As the dolphins are initially quite agitated, they are left to calm down over night. The following day, fishermen enter the bay in small boats, and the dolphins are caught one at a time and killed. The primary method of dispatch was for a long time to cut the dolphin's throat, severing blood vessels, and death was due to exsanguination (The Cove).
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In The Cove, the sight of this shocking brutality serves as a primary argument that the producers use to support their positions. However, since the release of the 2009 film, these practices have developed into something even more barbaric. The Taiji Fishing Corporation announced in 2013 that they would implement changes to their existing practices by extending the suffering of the dolphin through paralysis (Butterworth). The fishers would now make an incision on the dolphins’ spinal cord, leading to significant hemorrhaging and certain paralysis, further supporting the argument that these practices are entirely inhumane. Beyond documenting the horror of these procedures, the film cited countless other reasons why this practice should be stopped. Among them, the film asserts that the consumption of dolphin meat is a practice that is dangerous to one’s health. In fact, the argument of securing public health is one that the international community has focussed heavily on publicizing. Several reports published by medical and scientific journals highlight the potential for negative human health effects related to the consumption of dolphin and whale meat (Fielding). In Taiji, scientists tested for mercury concentrations in the meat of numerous fish native to the area (including, pilot whales, striped dolphin, risso's dolphin), and in hair samples from 50 Taiji residents (30 men and 20 women). The results suggested that the residents who ate the the whale and dolphin meats had abnormally high concentrations of mercury in their body (Endo). Across the globe in St. Vincent, West Indies, where a community in the Lesser Antilles district of the island hunt and consume dolphin and whale meat, another group of scientists conducted similar research experiment. They tested samples of whale and dolphin meat for mercury concentrations and found that the meat, prepared through the
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use of local cooking techniques, yielded a food product that was not considered safe according to U.S. FDA regulations (Fielding). Specifically, the fresh, uncooked tissue contained an average of 0.92 to 1.57 micrograms of mercury per gram, while the cooked tissue contained an average of 7.59 micrograms of mercury per gram of tissue. The U.S. FDA considers 1 microgram per gram to be the “action level” at which authorities should advise people to cut down on seafood consumption (Fielding). While each study followed differing research procedures, they both point to mercury as an alarming factor in their conclusions. This chemical is reported to damage the central and peripheral nervous system, while also causing neurological and behavioral disorders, including tremors, insomnia, memory loss, neuromuscular effects, headaches and cognitive and motor dysfunction (Fielding). With dolphins and whales at the higher end of the aquatic food chain, their mercury concentrations are dramatically higher than most other sea creatures because of the fish they consume (The Cove). In addition to the obvious health threat consuming dolphin and whale meats poses to humans, these traditional practices don’t consider the intelligence of dolphins and whales an ethical objection. By examining how these creatures communicate, solve problems, develop their behavioral characteristics, it’s clear that they possess cognitive capabilities superior to many other mammals. For this reason, many believe that intelligence should be a determining factor of whether an animal is acceptable to eat or not.
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Personal Reflection I’ve heard more about the human effects on animal life in the past two years than I’ve ever heard before. Everything from dolphin killing, to the treatment of animals in captivity, to poaching, to the industrial slaughter of farm animals, has been documented, reported, and shared, primarily through social media. As a result, I consider myself to be moderately informed about the issues that exist today. In my opinion, there is a major disconnect between those who learn about these issues, and those who don’t. For those individuals that don’t share the same intrigue that I do, there’s no doubt why some may feel apathetic towards these kinds of issues. However, with the particular case that I researched for this assignment, I feel strongly that the practices of dolphin killing and whaling should end. For me, it’s not about health defects or some emotional attachment to the animals. I simply don’t believe this practice should continue because I feel it brings out the worst in some people. Being responsible for killing thousands of innocent, profoundly intelligent sea mammals, that bare a striking resemblance to your own species, seems wildly unnecessary; but to do so in an obviously inhumane and shockingly ruthless way, makes my stomach turn. This project has opened my eyes to the details of the debate itself. While I’m now more aware than ever that bias can be ever present in researching a controversy like this, I feel that I’ve drawn justified conclusions and learned a great deal about this upsetting reality.
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References 1. Butterworth, Andrew, Philippa Brakes, Courtney S. Vail, and Diana Reiss. "A Veterinary and Behavioral Analysis of Dolphin Killing Methods Currently Used in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Drive Huntâ&#x20AC;? in Taiji, Japan." Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 16.2 (2013): 184-204. ProQuest. Web. 9 Apr. 2016. 2. The Cove. Dir. Louie Psihoyos. Perf. Ric O'Barry and Hayden Panettiere. Participant Media, 2009. Http://www.thecovemovie.com/. Web. 11 Apr. 2016. 3. Dawn, Karen. "Is Japan's Dolphin Slaughter Really for Food?" The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 24 Jan. 2014. Web. 11 Apr. 2016. <http:// www.huffingtonpost.com/karen-dawn/is-japans-dolphin-slaughter-really-forfood_b_4656345.html>. 4. Endo, Tetsuya, and Koichi Haraguchi. "High Mercury Levels in Hair Samples from Residents of Taiji, a Japanese Whaling Town." Marine Pollution Bulletin 60.5 (2010): 743-47. Science Direct. Web. 12 Apr. 2016. 5. Fielding, Russell, and David W. Evans. "Mercury in Caribbean Dolphins (Stenella Longirostris and Stenella Frontalis) Caught for Human Consumption off St. Vincent, West Indies." Marine Pollution Bulletin 89.1-2 (2014): 30-34. Web. 9 Apr. 2016. 6. Iyengar, Rishi. "Japan's Annual Dolphin Hunt Has Resumed." TIME Magazine 25 Sept. 2014: n. pag. Web. <http://time.com/3428322/japan-dolphin-hunt-taiji-thecove/>.
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7. Wakatsuki, Yoko, and Madison Park. "Japan Officials Defend Dolphin Hunting at Taiji Cove." CNN. Cable News Network, 22 Jan. 2014. Web. 09 Apr. 2016. <http:// www.cnn.com/2014/01/20/world/asia/japan-dolphin-hunt/>. 8. Walsh, Bryan. "Oceans: Defending Dolphin Killing." TIME Magazine. TIME, Inc., 23 Aug. 2010. Web. 09 Apr. 2016. <http://science.time.com/2010/08/23/oceansdefending-dolphin-killing/>. 9. Zakaria, Fareed. "Abe Responds to Dolphin Controversy." Fareed Zakaria GPS. CNN, 23 Jan. 2014. Web. 11 Apr. 2016. <http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/ 2014/01/23/abe-responds-to-dolphin-controversy/>.
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