Groups “Disappointed” as Japan Continues Whale Hunts
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October 4, 2011 TheFreshOutlook  |
Japan will continue its “scientific whaling”, says minister, amid outcry from conservation organisations who continue to campaign against such expeditions.
Japan’s fisheries minister, Michiko Kano, has announced that the country will continue its whaling expedition in the Antarctic waters this winter.
Officials in Tokyo maintain that the hunts form part of ongoing research that provides data on whale populations. Opposition groups, however, disagree.
“We intend to carry out the research after enhancing measures to assure that it is not obstructed,” said Mr Kano on Tuesday.
Following mass protests last year, the hunts will see heightened security in attempts to prevent any damage to equipment or the whalers themselves.
Japan’s last expedition was cut short due to violent clashes with anti-whaling groups and, in one incident, a boat belonging to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Group sank after it collided with a Japanese ship.
The boat’s captain was later arrested and convicted of assault and vandalism.
Commercial whaling has been outlawed in Japan since 1986, yet, according to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), “over 30,000 whales have been killed since the moratorium came into effect”.
Following Tuesday’s announcement, Danny Groves, communications manager of WDCS, spoke to The Fresh Outlook. We are “disappointed but not surprised”, said Mr Groves.
“Japan is exploiting a loophole to conduct what is an inhumane activity. Whales are unsuitable for sustainable use by humans (they are long living and slow to reproduce), and there is no humane way to kill a whale at sea – whales are a moving target, shot at on a moving vessel which sits on a moving sea.”
He added: “Grenade harpoons are often used to kill whales forcing them to be subjected to a long, slow and painful death.”
Mr Groves explained that WDCS will continue their “campaigning and government lobbying to bring an end to so-called ‘scientific whaling’”.
Anti-whaling groups maintain that Mr Kano’s announcement is an attempt to keep the whale industry alive and Sea Shepherd has already threatened to block the upcoming event.
Despite strong protests, Japan’s pro-whaling community seems to be largely supported by the public. According to an AP poll conducted in July and August, 52% favour whaling expeditions, whilst only 13% oppose it.
35% of the Japanese public remain neutral, according to the report.
The expedition, named Operation Divine Wind, will begin in December.
By Catherine Rees
[Image courtesy of Michael Dawes]
