Whales are the majestic mammals of the world's oceans. These amazing and large creatures have held a place in human interest throughout history and maybe even into pre-history. Traditionally, whales were hunted for their meat and catching one whale meant enough meat to feed an entire community for many months. However, in the 1700s, whaling took on a whole new meaning and it also became a worldwide phenomenon. The reason for this is that the focus shifted from the meat a whale could provide to the oil that comes from the whale's blubber. This oil became the primary lamp fuel for people around the world. During this time the baleen whale was also prized for another reason, the keratin-rich material that was termed whale bone. This material was put to a number of different uses, from ladies' corsets to riding crops to umbrellas. Even whale teeth were considered treasures and were engraved and given as gifts in the upper class. The whaling industry had made its mark in the world and business was booming.
Sadly, the whaling that occurred in the 1700s and 1800s took its toll on the populations of many whale species. Whales live a very long time, reaching ages almost comparable with humans in some cases, and females generally only bear one calf per year, sometimes one per few years. Over her lifetime a female can produce dozens of calves. So when a female whale is killed, which was often the case, that meant dozens of calves would never be born. The death of even one female is a blow to already low whale populations. As the whale populations decreased the populations of krill and other species increased and this lead to an overabundance of other animals that feed on krill and the other foods on which whales feed.
Things only got worse for the whales as harpoon guns and steam-powered boats were invented, making it easier for humans to track and kill whales. Thus the whale industry grew even more in the 1800s and early 1900s until by 1940 it was obvious that some species of whales were nearly extinct. Since this was a major risk to the whaling business, the whaling countries around the world got together and signed an International Whaling Convention. This established the International Whaling Commission, which was responsible for researching whale populations and for regulating the whaling industry.
In 1986 a ban was placed on commercial fishing that was meant to help the whales come back. However, despite the ban, more than 1500 whales have been hunted and killed every year since the ban was put into place. Japan and Norway are particularly guilty of the practice of illegal whaling. Japan has been doing it under the guise of scientific “research” and Norway openly defies the ban. Iceland is another country that officially objected to the whaling ban and while they agreed not to engage in whaling until 2006 they too have been conducting scientific research.
There is another threat to the whale population as well and that is the issue of bycatch. Bycatch is the term used when unwanted sea life gets caught in fishing nets. Thousands of whales get caught in fishing nets each and every year and this is also taking its toll on whale populations. Even if these animals were to be cut out of the nets and set free, by the time this happens, many of these animals have drowned because, as mammals, they have lungs and must get to the surface to breathe air. Many simply don't make it. In fact, countries like Japan and South Korea have used the existence of bycatch to their advantage, profiting off the whales that are caught each year in this manner. This is a form of whaling that is not regulated and that is further harming whale populations in many parts of the world.
So where are the whales today? How have they fared and have any species bounced back? Fortunately, many whale species have bounced back, but there are more than ten species that are still struggling and considered endangered, including the northern and southern right whale, the bowhead whale, the blue whale, the humpback whale, the fin whale, the sperm whale, and the sei whale. There needs to be stricter regulations in place. Illegal whaling is making it very difficult for these species and these practices must stop if these whale populations are going to be able to bounce back and survive.