International Attitudes To Whales, Whaling And The Use Of Whale Products: A Six-country Survey

Evaluates differences in attitudes to whales in general, whaling in particular, and the use of whale products, including differences by country.

(Survey companies selected by Gallup Canada) Respondents in Australia and Germany opposed the hunting of whales under any circumstances by a 2-1 margin and those in the U.S. did by a 4-3 margin. Those in Japan disagreed with the statement, with a opposition of a 2.5-1 margin and those in Norway disagreed by a 3-1 margin.

The highest policy priority for respondents in Australia, England, Germany, Norway, and the U.S. was that the most humane methods of killing be utilized and that strict international controls be put into place. The highest for respondents in Japan was “sustainability of the whale fishery and minimizing wasteful practices.”

In each country, strictly economic goals (i.e. the profitability of the whaling industry) ranked as the lowest policy priority.

Whale meat received the highest disapproval ratings of any meats in the four non-whaling countries; in the two whaling countries whale meat enjoyed neither high approval nor high disapproval ratings.

Somewhat greater knowledge was possessed by respondents in the two countries (Japan and Norway) where public support for whaling is strongest.