not a traditional whale hunt

Question

I was up at Spring Top this morning and say a whale blow, then I saw the motor boats chasing the whale...Somehow it just didn't seem very sportsmanlike to have 3 motor boats chasing down a whale, then a 4th motor boat came roaring across to the whaling boat, which was no where close as it was under sail with not much wind...that motor boat picked up the harpooner and took off to join the other motor boats chasing the whale...that boat no sooner caught up with the other boats then there was spouts of blood shooting up...no traditional sailing whale boat involvement, no chase to speak of, certainly no chase once they'd fired the harpoon, no nantucket sleigh ride, no fight, just 4 boat loads of bullies with a harpoon gun...it lasted maybe 10 minutes and most of that time was spent with the 3 boats chasing while they waited for the harpooner in the 4th boat...

I've always defended the whale hunt because it was traditional and cultural...I'd even learned how to cook it and have eaten it on several occasions...no more...

A few weeks ago the whalers killed and lost a whale, that washed ashore a few days later...what a waste...that whale put up a fight, and would not have been lost if the whaler had been willing to accept help from a big boat, the Patree, that was nearby and offered to help as they could tow the whale and had plenty of rope...the whalers didn't want to have to share any of the whale so they said no and the whale sank..result, they didn't get any of that whale...

vinceygirl · Accepted Answer

How sad. I too supported the tradition and culture, tradition and culture being the operative words. A portion of Bequia's rich history now tarnished forever.

curiousx · Answer

Ive felt for some years that it is time past for this...and many of my local friends agree

Elizabeth T · Answer

the housekeeper at Spring Top was standing beside me sharing the binoculars and she was probably more upset than I was...

Elizabeth T · Answer

I heard today that the whale was a year old female calf 30 feet long...I suppose this explains why she wasn't diving to get away and perhaps why she died so quick...

But...the whalers, although they caught the whale about 9:30 on friday, towed it to Friendship and didn't drain the blood and didn't butcher it until Saturday and everybody is complaining that the meat was bad...

Elizabeth T · Answer

and the latest is that the coast guard came and took the harpooner away for killing the whale in other than the manner that they are allowed to kill a whale here

ava_sophia · Answer

how very sad and disillusioning..

vinceygirl · Answer

If the coast guard took the man away that tells me there were more than a few upset by what went on during the hunt. Nice to know someone is paying attention.

nutmeg-my-rum-please · Answer

Whaling is the one disturbing reality of Bequia. Bequians should grow up, join the world community and stop the practice of whaling. They don't need whales for food, the waters around Bequia are abundant.

MQS007 · Answer

It is my understanding that the issue is more complex. What I have been told is that because SVG has a aborigional whaling tradition, it is entitled to a seat and thus a vote on the International Whaling Council. That vote, like other UN votes is for sale, and SVG receives significant aide from Japan in appreciation for SVG's support of Japan on the Whaling Council. So SVG has to continue to have a traditional whaling hunt in support of Japan.

At least that is what I have been told

Elizabeth T · Answer

At the IWC meeting in St. Kitts in 2006 though, St. Vincent abstained on a vote that would have benefitted the Japanese...

As far as the waters around here being abundant I don't think that is true...quite often you can't get fresh fish as for one reason or another the fishermen aren't catching anything...

not a traditional whale hunt - Bequia Forum

not a traditional whale hunt

Bequia Hotels and Places to Stay