IWC OKs extended whaling quotas for Alaska Eskimos

The Associated Press

The International Whaling Commission on May 29 approved extending bowhead whaling quotas for Alaska Eskimos for subsistence hunting.

The 76-nation commission voted by consensus to allow 280 bowhead whales to be taken over a five-year period, ending in 2012. A majority of those, 260 bowheads, are reserved for Alaska natives in 10 villages, with 20 bowheads granted to Russians.

The five-year extension received the support of Japan, which is also trying to secure quotas for some of its coastal communities.

“Consistency is the keyword in this discussion,” said Joji Morishita, the alternate IWC commissioner for Japan.

Japan has long sought “community whaling” status, which would give it quotas under provisions similar to those that allow Alaska Natives and other indigenous groups to hunt the mammals. It was not immediately clear when the IWC would take up Japan’s request.

Harvesting whales is considered a sacred accomplishment by many of an estimated 5,000 Alaska Eskimos who heavily rely on the meat to fill their tables. Ceremonial dances are held to bless the hunts and successful harvests prompt village celebrations where the meat is cut up and distributed.

Isaac Nukapigak, a whaling captain from the North Slope village of Nuiqsut, said he can’t imagine life without the bowhead whale, a coveted feature at Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities in the community of 400.

“It would be like taking part of my culture away,” he said. “It’s a tradition that has been passed on to us for thousands of years.”

A proposal for Greenland to increase and add to its aboriginal quotas was unresolved May 29. Critics were troubled by the proposed addition of humpback whales, an endangered species, and bowheads to Greenland’s minke whale quotas.

Commission chairman Bill Hogarth of the United States recommended that Denmark, of which Greenland is a semiautonomous territory, meet with other delegations before putting the matter to a vote.

In closed-door talks May 29, Japan’s Morishita met with representatives from anti-commercial whaling nations, including New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

Morishita could not be reached for comment afterward. New Zealand commissioner Chris Carter said the two sides agreed to continue their dialogue.

The meeting ended May 31.