Can whale meat be eaten? Chinese law explicitly prohibits eating it

Whales are not fish but mammals that live in the ocean. Because of their huge size and thick blubber, some coastal regions historically had traditions of whaling to obtain meat and oil. But in modern times, commercial whaling has been widely restricted by the international community, and whale meat has long ceased to be an ordinary food on the table.

From a legal perspective, in China all whale species are classed as nationally key protected wild animals, and hunting, killing, trading and eating whale meat are all illegal acts. At the international level, relevant conventions also constrain whaling and the whale meat trade, and currently only a few countries and regions retain limited whaling activities, which must be subject to strict supervision. Therefore, for the vast majority of people, eating whale meat is neither legal nor feasible.

From a food safety perspective, whales live long and sit at the top of the marine food chain, so their bodies readily accumulate heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium as well as persistent organic pollutants, and eating this kind of meat may pose health risks. In addition, the sources of whale meat are complex and quarantine is difficult, so its safety is hard to guarantee, and it is not suitable as an everyday food.

As an important part of the marine ecosystem, whales play an irreplaceable role in maintaining the ocean's material cycles and ecological balance. Overall, whale meat should not be eaten and is not permitted to be eaten at will, and if the public discovers illegal hunting, killing or trading of whales, they should promptly report it to the relevant authorities, working together to protect these giants of the ocean.