Counting Whales
It is important to understand whale numbers and distribution patterns so that we can address all threats to their survival. IFAW scientists have invested considerable effort into developing better ways to locate and count whales.

Minke Whales Around the Coast of Japan
The numbers of minke whales killed in the North Pacific has increased in recent years. Between 2001 and 2006, around 400 minke whales have been taken each year, destined for markets in Japan and Republic of Korea. True takes allowing for illegal whaling may well be considerably greater than this.

Minke Whale
There are two species of minke whale now recognized by the IWC. Because of its small size, the minke whale was not caught in large numbers until the 1970s when larger whale populations became severely depleted. Minke whales have become the principal target for whaling by Iceland, Japan and Norway. More than 25,000 have been killed since the 1986 ban on commercial whaling came into effect

Humpback Whale
The same coastal habits that make humpbacks an easy target for whalers make them prone to entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships and at risk from noise pollution.

Bowhead Whales
It is beneath the dignity of a great nation like Japan to play politics with the bowhead quota request of the Alaska Natives.