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▼ Japan Set To Resume Commercial Whaling
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Japan withdrew from the International Whaling Commission on Sunday and will resume commercial whaling on Monday for the first time in 31 years. Whaling ships are set to leave from ports in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Kushiro, Hokkaido.
The IWC, which Japan joined in 1951, decided to suspend commercial whaling in 1982, citing the need to protect whales. Japan started research whaling in 1987 in the Antarctic Ocean to collect ecological data on whales, including their numbers.
While Japan suspended commercial whaling in 1988, it has domestically sold whale meat gained as a “by-product” of research whaling in the Antarctic Ocean and northwest Pacific.
The commercial whaling, which will start Monday in Japanese territorial waters and its exclusive economic zones, will target three kinds of whales — minke, Bryde’s and sei whales.
Annual catches will be capped. The Fisheries Agency said it plans to calculate and publish the catch limit soon, aiming to set a figure that ensures “whales will not go extinct even in 100 years.”
The IWC, which Japan joined in 1951, decided to suspend commercial whaling in 1982, citing the need to protect whales. Japan started research whaling in 1987 in the Antarctic Ocean to collect ecological data on whales, including their numbers.
While Japan suspended commercial whaling in 1988, it has domestically sold whale meat gained as a “by-product” of research whaling in the Antarctic Ocean and northwest Pacific.
The commercial whaling, which will start Monday in Japanese territorial waters and its exclusive economic zones, will target three kinds of whales — minke, Bryde’s and sei whales.
Annual catches will be capped. The Fisheries Agency said it plans to calculate and publish the catch limit soon, aiming to set a figure that ensures “whales will not go extinct even in 100 years.”
- July 1, 2019
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