In fact, they are well known for approaching people in a curious and friendly manner. When the Makah move in for the kill, the whales will be unafraid. The Makah clearly do not meet IWC criteria as subsistence whalers. Their culture has survived and revived without whaling. Approximately 1,600 tribal members live in Neah Bay.
Unemployment remains a serious problem.
Live whales are more valuable than dead whales. A young gray whale was caught and drowned in a carelessly set Makah net in 1996. Since no one knew how to cut or cook the whale most of it ended up in the town's dump. Two years later the whale meat still languishes unwanted in tribal freezers. There is zero nutritional need for whales.