The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has recently become concerned with the whaling practices in the small West Indian island of Bequia.

Historically, Bequia was dependent on humpback and sperm whale catches for fresh meat. However, as the island has become more of a tourist center in the Caribbean, it has become more developed, therefore bringing the necessity of subsistence whaling into question.

The IWC is also concerned with allegations of cruelty during the kills. First of all, whalers throw a hand harpoon that is attached by rope to the boat. Once the whale resurfaces, the whaler shoots additional harpoons in the area of the heart, often times taking over two hours to finish the kill.

Additionally, one aboriginal whaling captain is facing two charges of breaking the IWC ban on harvesting a suckling calf with its mother. Though he denies these allegations, the second incident was witnessed by a group of British tourists. They reported to the BBC that the whalers first harpooned a humpback whale calf knowing that the mother would not abandon her injured calf. Once the mother was lured in, the whalers harpooned her as well.

Whalers claim that once the whale has died, the meat is processed inshore and distributed throughout the village. However, in recent years, IWC officials have been investigating allegations that whale blubber is being traded illegally for processing into margarine, perhaps confirming that these catches are not purely for subsistence purposes.