Commercial Whaling Issues Survey

Evaluates respondents concern about the welfare and treatment of different species of animals, including dogs, cats, whales, seals, sea turtles, elephants, and primates. Also addresses a range of whaling-related issues, including support or opposition to statements advocating that the U.S. take a stand against commercial whaling.

The order that the respondents are concerned with the welfare and treatment of animals (from most to least): dogs and cats; whales; elephants; apes; chimpanzees and other primates; seals; and sea turtles.

60% of respondents “strongly oppose” commercial whaling and 23% “somewhat oppose” it. 37% (a plurality) of those that oppose commercial whaling oppose it because “whales are endangered/declining populations” while 26% oppose it because it is “wrong to kill animals.”

72% of respondents aware of countries currently engaged in commercial whaling are aware of Japan’s involvement, while only 15% are aware of Norway’s.

The following tactics to stop commercial whaling in Japan and Norway are approved of in declining order: 1) have high-level US government officials speaking out publicly against these countries commercial whaling, 2) apply diplomatic pressure through various government channels and within international agencies, 3) apply trade sanctions such as banning the import of these countries’ seafood products as long as they continue commercial whaling. Each of three tactics are strongly or somewhat approved by 69%+ of the respondents.

73% of respondents “would be willing to boycott” a Japanese or Norwegian company with business involvement in commercial whaling. 62% would be more inclined to buy the products of a Japanese or Norwegian company that publicly stated it has no business involvement with whaling whatsoever.

Respondents were also asked to rank their concern with the welfare and treatment of dogs and cats on a 10 point scale:

• 9-10 Concerned (55%)
• 6-8 (31%), 5 (10%)
• 0-4 Not concerned (5%)

Rating concern for the welfare and treatment of whales:

• 9-10 Concerned (46%)
• 6-8 (33%), 5 (12%)
• 0-4 Not concerned (8%)

Rating concern for the welfare and treatment of elephants:

• 9-10 Concerned (43%)
• 6-8 (36%)
• 5 (13%)
• 0-4 Not concerned (8%)
• Don’t Know/refused (1%)

Rating concern for the welfare and treatment of apes, chimpanzees and other primates:

• 9-10 Concerned (41%)
• 6-8 (39%)
• 5 (12%)
• 0-4 Not concerned (8%)

Rating concern for the welfare and treatment of seals:

• 9-10 Concerned (38%)
• 6-8 (38%)
• 5 (14%)
• 0-4 Not concerned (10%)

Rating concern for the welfare and treatment of sea turtles:

• 9-10 Concerned (37%)
• 6-8 (34%)
• 5 (16%)
• 0-4 Not concerned (12%)
• Don’t Know/refused (1%)