Whale meat
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Whale meat is the flesh of whales used for consumption by humans or other animals. It is prepared in various ways, and is traditionally part of the diet and cuisine of various communities, including those of Japan, Iceland, and the Arctic. Human consumption of whale meat is highly controversial and banned by international treaties{{Source}} is deprecated. Please use a more specific template. See the documentation for a list of suggested templates.. Much of the whale meat in the world market comes from the so-called "scientific" hunting of whales, where whales are killed in order to be "studied" and their meat then sold on to consumers.
History
Whales have been hunted by different communities for many centuries. Usually this was for food, but sometimes eating whale meat was the by-product of other concerns such as the need for whale oil, or the desire to clear oceans of whales which were potential shipping hazards.
In the 1960s, the breeding of cetaceans for human consumption in atolls used for nuclear testing was mooted but never carried out.[1]
Species hunted
Minke whale is one of the most common species still hunted.[citation needed]
Cuts
In modern-day Japan, two cuts of whale meat are usually created: the belly meat and the fluke (tail) meat. In the early 1800s, 70 different cuts were known.[2]
Coastal Eskimos divided their catch into 10 sections. The fatty tail, considered to be the best part, went to the captain of the conquering vessel, while the less-desired sections were given to his crew and others that assisted with the kill.[citation needed]
Dishes
In places such as Norway, Iceland, and Alaska, whale meat may be served without seasoning. However, it can also be cured or marinated, or made into jerky.[3]
Dishes available in Japanese whale meat restaurants serve various dishes, including cubed and grilled blubber, cartilage salads, and whale skin stew.[2]
Some dishes available in Japan:
- Hari-hari-nabe is a typical dish in Osaka
- Sashimi of Onomi is a marbled meat taken from the dorsal fin to the tail
- Sashimi of Abura-sunoko is striped layers of meat made from the root of the flippers
- Udemono, consists of innards that have been boiled and sliced[4]
Regions
Greenland
The consumption of whale meat by the Inuit people in Greenland is part of their culture. However, in recent times, tourists have begun to consume the meat. A Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) investigation has documented the practice of commercial wholesalers commissioning subsistence whalers hunt to supply the demand by supermarkets. Whale products in Greenland are sold in 4-star hotels.[5]
Japan
Whales have been hunted for meat in Japan since the prior to 800 A.D. After World War II, due to damage to Japan's infrastructure, whale meat in became an important source of protein.[2][6]
As of 2006, in Japan, 5,560 tons of whale meat worth ¥5.5 billion is sold in every year.[7] The Japanese market has declined in recent years, with prices falling to $12 per pound in 2004, down $3 per pound in 1999.[8] Fluke meat can sell for over $200 per kilogram, over three times the price of belly meat.[2]
Whale meat is subject to strict quotas and there is evidence that some of the meat on sale is illegally sourced.[9] In some cases, dolphin meat is passed off as whale meat.[10] There is also evidence that more meat is caught than can be consumed by humans, with up to 20% of 2004's catch going unsold.[9]
Native Alaskan communities
For thousands of years, people native to the Alaskan Arctic have depended on whale meat. The meat is harvested from legal, non-commercial hunts that occur twice a year in the spring and autumn. The meat is stored and eaten throughout the winter.[11]
Faroe Islands
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For centuries, meat from the pilot whale has been an importance source of food and vitamins. The meat is not available in supermarkets, but instead is kept in homes, where it is prepared and eaten.
Both the meat and blubber are stored and prepared in various ways, including Tvøst og spik. When fresh, the meat is often boiled. It can also be served as steak (grindabúffur). This dish comprises meat, blubber and potatoes, which is salted and then boiled for an hour. The meat can also be served in thin slivers with dried fish.
Traditionally, whale meat was preserved by hanging salted pieces outdoors to be dried in the wind. This method is still used today, particularly in villages. Today, both meat and blubber are often stored in the freezer.
Pathology
Tests have revealed that in whale meat sold in the Faroe Islands and Japan, high levels of mercury and other toxins are present.
Chief medical officers of the Faroe Islands have made recommendations regarding the consumption of whale meat. They stated that the meat should not be considered fit for human consumption due to toxicity.[12]
In Japan, a research study was conducted by Tetsuya Endo, Koichi Haraguchi and Masakatsu Sakata at the University of Hokkaido. They stated that "Acute intoxication could result from a single ingestion...".
The study found that liver samples for sale in Japan contained, on average, 370 micrograms of mercury per gram of meat, 900 times the government's limit. Levels detected in kidneys and lungs were approximately 100 times higher than the limit.[12]
Environmental impact
Norwegian-based High North Alliance, has suggested that the carbon footprint resulting from eating whale meat is substantially lower than that of beef. Greenpeace has responded that "The survival of a species is more important than lower greenhouse gas emissions from eating it," [13]
Many organizations, including Greenpeace, have criticised the whale trade for preying on endangered species. Despite an international ban on whaling for food, many whales are killed under the pretense of "scientific whaling" and their meat is then sold on for human consumption.
Anti-whaling efforts
Groups such as Sea Shepherd have attempted to disrupt commercial whaling to varying degrees of success.[14]
See also
References
- ^ Tuna meltdown: is there an alternative? , Guardian
- ^ a b c d Palmer, Brian (2010-03-11). "What does whale taste like?". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ "Why Japan persists in hunting whales". BBC News. 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ "How to Cook Whale Meat". Luna.pos.to. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ "Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society: Whales Intended for Subsistence in Greenland Are Sold in 4-Star Restaurants to Tourists". Business Wire. 2010-06-24. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ^ Yan Wei (2008-01-03). "A Whale of A Controversy". Beijing Review. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ "Greenpeace: Stores, eateries less inclined to offer whale". The Japan Times Online. 2008-03-08. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ Anthony Faiola (2005-06-19). "Reviving a Taste for Whale". Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ a b Whale meat in Japan , Greenpeace
- ^ The Japanese Government is Poisoning its Own Citizens, Sea Shepherd
- ^ "BBC News - Native Alaskans say oil drilling threatens way of life". Bbc.co.uk. 2010-07-20. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ^ a b "Extreme mercury levels revealed in whalemeat - 06 June 2002". New Scientist. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ Alister Doyle (March 4, 2008). "Eat whale and save the planet says Norwegian lobby". Reuters. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ Sea Shepherd seafarers battle sickness and Japanese whalers, Guardian
Further reading
- Mutsuko Ohnishi (1995), "Mrs. Ohnishi's Whale Cuisine", Kodansha, ISBN 4-06-207579-2
External links
