Treatise on Whaling and Similar Creatures

The Treatise on Whaling and Similar Creatures is a legal treaty created by the Northern Nautical Confederation to regulate whaling and fishing among its member states. It was ratified in 228 IA and has been the backbone of laws related to maritime industries ever since. The treaty lays out limits for ships and whaling companies as to how many whales they can hunt in a single trip and year. They outline which species of whales can be hunted, and the priestesses to the Sea Mother are responsible for keeping the ocean calm and the harvests bountiful. While it seems overly restrictive on the outset, in truth, the dangers of whaling and expense to build and crew new ships means that the limits often don't significantly impede on businesses expanding. They also set out guidelines for how the profits of whaling ventures are paid out to the crew and among investors. There are guidelines for standards of treatment and lodging of workers as well as lists of what can be docked from pay and what can't. Food for the voyage, notably, can't be deducted from pay, and while replacing hammocks can be deducted, "swing fees" which were daily fees charged to the sailors for using the hammocks were deemed illegal. Certain cuts of meat are reserved for the crew to eat on the return voyage to incentivize whaling ships to successfully hunt and kills whales. It also helps reduce costs of storing and purchasing salted meat for the duration of the voyage. Fishing regulations are also laid out down to where fishing boats may operate. After multiple disasters involving small craft being sunk by venturing into dangerous open waters, the treatise lists out different grades of ship by tonnage with small craft only being permitted closer to land. Ships are requred to keep track of how many barrels of fish they catch in a trip along with records of the type. Large vessels must record how many empty barrels they leave with and how many fully barrels they return with. Excess fishing is subject to fines. The treaty also outlines how sea monster hunting is handled and leaves provisions for hunting new creatures that emerge from the oceans. There are cost floors for whale oil and whale meat to limit businesses from severely undercutting each other.
Upon being ratified, representatives of each memberstate were tasked with reading the treatise to the people in large assemblies. In Deejs, the repsentative was Erlich Sutgard. While delivering his speech in the capital Muloes, a riot broke out among the fishermen and whalers who believed that the treatise would drive them out of work. They pelted him with rotted fish, and rioters barricaded the whaling companies and NNC office. The riot lasted for several days until military forces could be brought in to subdue to the rioters. By that time, vast amounts of damage had been done, but the government refused to amend their signature. They openly villified the rioters, and Erlich retired from public service soon after citing stress caused by the riots.

Type

Treaty, Trade