In One Ear: Whales as people
The He Whakaputanga Moana treaty, signed by Indigenous leaders from several Polynesian countries, has an interesting premise: Whales are now recognized as legal persons, according to an ABC.au report, granting them rights and legal standing if they are harmed.
“The whale is an ancestor, so it’s our role as ocean guardians to ensure they’re protected,” Mere Takoko, of Hinemoana Halo Ocean Initiative, said. “ ... By providing us with the resources and authority to manage our ancestral waters, we can become stronger protectors of the whales and the moana (ocean) as a whole.”
The main threat to whales is ship strikes. With the treaty in effect, she added, “that will mean companies that are undertaking unsustainable practices will now have to change those practices.”
Next? Takoko’s team will start talks with Pacific governments to create a legal framework for whale protection.
