Whaling

In fact, it would be quite easy to ensure the survival of the species through the use of property rights. A sustainable global catch can be independently, scientifically and conservatively determined from year to year. Governments across the globe could be allocated transferable property rights to a share of the sustainable catch, and these rights could be passed on to individuals.

Those that oppose whaling could leave their share of whales in the sea, and could buy up the shares of others to save even more whales.

Those that wish to take whales would maintain their share of the sustainable catch in perpetuity, and their property right could not be taken away without compensation. This would encourage whalers to maintain the long term health of the whale population.

This would lead to a limited number of efficient whalers, each with an incentive to counter illegal whaling, and a greater degree of compliance than the current prohibitionist approach.

Indeed, an arrangement based on restraint and property rights would be an affirmation of science and a rejection of quasi-religious absolutism. It would recognise that humans are a legitimate part of nature, and that we do not have to apologise for walking the earth, flying the skies or sailing the seas.

But in the meantime, we should leave the Japanese alone and accept a return to commercial whaling on the basis of tolerance, fairness and science.

David Leyonhjelm is Liberal Democrats Senator for NSW