The worst trip ever

Holy crap. I cannot think of any way a whale watch trip could go worse than this one out of Hokkaido did. I suppose the boat capsizing or being taken by pirates would be worse, but that can happen anywhere. Let me summarize for you: whale watch boat finds whale (a Baird's beaked whale, a poorly-understood but probably healthy species). Whale watch boat finds whalers already found whale. Whale watchers watch whalers whack whale.

Now look, I hate whaling, even of non-threatened species. I don't mind hunting or fishing, and even when threatened species are being over-exploited or the methods being used are damaging critical habitats, I understand why it's being done as much. I might object to the methods used because of the effects they have, but I have no objection to the general practice. I freely admit this might be my inner eight-year-old who is basically in charge of my professional goals, but I just think whales are different. No rational here, though obviously the great and endangered whales are clear enough, but even hearing about an abundant species being hunted disturbs me. And Japan is one of the most active whaling nations left -- nowhere near mid-20th century levels but whaling does go on around the world.

That said, what in the flying frak was that whale watch captain thinking? He's quoted as saying "It's my job to show people whales and it's the whalers' job to catch them, but I wonder how this can be avoided." Perhaps, but not the same whales at the same time. You go out on a whale watch to see these animals in life, in their habitat. Here's how you avoid that: you acknowledge that people will be disturbed by seeing whales being butchered on a whale watch, and you communicate with other vessels around your whales. If you see what looks like a whaler on your whale, just don't even go there. Point it out to people and say "we're going to cruise around and find other animals so we don't get in the way over there".

I'm not one who thinks a trip should be pure entertainment, no different than a roller coaster with animals. It should be enriching, which means people step off the boat feeling like they
had a rare experience with some incredible wildlife -- which they did. They should ultimately feel like seeing these whales is worth the effort, and that the whales themselves are worth the effort. Watching a whale get harpooned and slaughtered is not the way to do that. It's an ugly reality you should acknowledge, but it should never be the point of the trip.