Lee Metcalf: “I rise in opposition to yet another proposal to renew commercial whaling on our Nation's West Coast. Next month the…”

“I rise in opposition to yet another proposal to renew commercial whaling on our Nation's West Coast. Next month the International Whaling Commission will meet. On its agenda is a resolution to authorize the Makah Tribe that is on the west coast of Washington State to renew commercial whaling, to kill five gray whales annually. Just three years ago gray whales were removed from the endangered species list. If they are granted whaling rights, 13 tribes in British Columbia are prepared to begin commercial whaling themselves. We all know that whales were hunted almost to extinction in all the oceans in the last century. I do not believe that people are prepared to renew commercial whaling in North America. There are many reasons: Guilt for the past actions a hundred years ago. People feel protective of whales. They are concerned for these great beasts. And there are economic reasons. There is a multimillion-dollar whale watching industry in northern California, Oregon coast, Washington coast, British Columbia, clear to Alaska. The gray whales and local orcas, they are used to boats. People sort of consider them like pets. Many individuals have been identified and can be recognized. People are thrilled to get a close look at them. But these are very intelligent animals. Once commercial killing starts, even on a limited basis, explosive harpoons, whales thrashing, blood in the water, there will soon be no whale watching. No boat will get close to gray whales again.”