11 July, 2019
Commitment to welfare of marine wildlife is timely, considering Japan’s decision to restart commercial whaling.
Friend of the Sea, the number one global certification standard for products and services that respect and protect the marine environment, today announced that Japan’s Kagoshima Blue Marine Cab has passed the first phase in becoming certified for Sustainable Dolphin and Whale Watching. The certification ensures that dolphin and whale watching tours conducted by Kagoshima Blue Marine Cab will protect dolphins in their natural habitat while spreading valuable information about the issue of sustainability in marine wildlife.
“This is a very important moment for marine tourism companies in Japan to step up and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability,” said Paolo Bray, Director of Friend of the Sea. “With Japan’s recent decision to restart commercial whaling, the time is now to exert some pressure in the opposite direction, in favor of defending the marine environment.”
Under the leadership of captain Minoru Namba, Kagoshima Blue Marine Cab takes guests out into the Sakurajima or Kinko Bay to see Indian Ocean Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), Long-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) and Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). The dolphin species are spotted all year round, while the humpback whales are only present in the winter and spring.
The standard sets limits on maximum approach speed and distance between the boats and the dolphins. At the same, it prohibits swimming with the animals and the use of monouse plastics on board the tour boats. Customers can interact with Friend of the Sea, giving feedback on the tour. Kagoshima Blue Marine Cab has passed the document audit phase of the certification process.
Friend of the Sea is focusing on sustainability in Japan given that country’s recent departure from the International Whaling Commission and its resumption of whale hunting. This change in the non-whaling policy, which was in effect for decades, has been covered by the BBC and other media outlets. Friend of the Sea wants to give a voice to Japanese operators that want to protect the whales rather than killing them.
*The International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute works closely with the European-based Friend of the Sea to protect marine life and oversee sustainable assessments of fisheries around the world. Friend of the Sea adheres to the international standards for Dolphin Safe tuna, as well as certifies sustainable fisheries, sustainable aquaculture, and (recently) sustainable whale watching operations. We are pleased to support Friend of the Sea’s recent certification of a Japanese whale watching operation, which allows for safe, sustainable education on cetaceans and marine life in the Japanese tourism sector. We hope this paves the way for other Japanese operators.
*About Friend of the Sea:
Friend of the Sea, a project of the World Sustainability Organization, awards sustainable practices in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Fishmeal and Omega 3 Fish Oil. The organization promotes pilot projects related to restaurants, sustainable shipping, whale and dolphin-watching, aquaria, ornamental fish, UV creams and others. It is the only sustainable fisheries certification program recognized and supervised globally by a National Accreditation Body.
For more information, visit https://friendofthesea.org/.