The Future of Whaling

You might have thought that the debate over commercial whaling was over and that the battle to save the whales was won. Well, think again. At its annual meeting in the Caribbean this week, The International Whaling Commission shook up the politics of whaling — and shocked those who have fought for years to end the hunt.

Despite a global moratorium on most whaling, the international body approved a resolution endorsing the eventual return to commercial whaling. The anti-whaling campaign has taken hold across much of the world, but with many species of whales now thriving, a few pro-whaling nations like Japan, Iceland and Norway, argue in favor of sustainable use.

Environmentalists say call it what you will, it would still result in the wholesale butchering of the world's largest and gentlest mammals. But pro-whaling forces ask: if we accept the killing of deer, moose, cows and pigs, why not whales?

Hear about the fight to save the whales, again.

Guests:

Patrick Ramage, Director of Communications for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

Rune Frovik, Secretary of the High North Alliance, a Norweigan-based pro-whaling organization

Philip Armour, writer for Outside Magazine.