Demand for whale blubber has been steadily increasing for decades. The food and oil deritives from the mass killing of whales has increased to the point where numbers of many species have dwindled. Presently, many organizations are taking advantage of the ability to continue hunting while the international debate rages on.
Whale blubber accounts for a huge percentage of a whale`s body mass. For example, a Bowhead weighing 5 tons will consist of approximately 1 ton of blubber. This fatty layer between the muscle tissues and the skin of all whale species continues to be a very necessary catch for the survival of whole communities. An example, is the Eskimos of Alaska.
The small number of Eskimo communities that survive to this day (nine in total) live off the Bowhead whale, taking great care to use all parts to the maximum benefit of the people. Uses from the whale blubber can include oils for candles, and fuel for lighting and heating, to name but a few. Of course there is a great need for the meat too. This need for such basics is not so transparent in other parts of the world where alternative products and fuel sources are readily available.
The Eskimo may also be an endangered species in the near future. Are we not obliged to support and better understand the needs and culture of a people who are also fighting for their continued existence? A total ban on the tradition of whale hunting would possibly quicken the deterioration of these relatively small communities already threatened by global warming. Not only does hunting provide whale blubber, food, and oils, but it also continues the direct relationship between the Bowhead and the cultural identity of the people.
Luckliy, the Bowhead population figures are consistently increasing year on year, moving away from possible extinction. This can be partly be attributed to the intervention of the Alaskan authorities who have helped improve the Eskimo strategies for hunting whales for their blubber and meat.
It is the issue of the unecessary slaughter for whale blubber that must be addressed by the international community. In this dynamic and technologically advancing 21st Century we must find alternatives for these derivative products.
About the Author:
Tim Link has been intrigued by the relationship between Eskimos and whales ever since there was a ban on commercial whale harvesting.
Get all the information and photos:: http://coringa.info/education/whale-blubber-is-still-necessary-for-some-people
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