Giving in to U.S. pressure and worldwide criticism, Japan's government on Friday announced a whaling fleet now in the Southern Ocean for its annual hunt will not kill Humpback whales as originally planned. The fleet will, however, kill some 935 minke whales, a smaller, more plentiful species, and 50 fin whales. But he added that Washington and Tokyo still have "opposite views on research whaling." Tokyo has staunchly defended its annual kill of more than 1,000 whales as crucial for research purposes. Japan's whaling fleet is run by a government-backed research institute and operates under an IWC clause that allow the killing of whales for scientific purposes. Japan said it would halt the humpback hunt pending further IWC discussion. "But there will be no changes to our stance on our research whaling itself," Machimura said. "We have made the decision for the benefit of the IWC as a whole."
Hmm - Japan thinks "research killing" of 1000 whales annually, benefits the IWC. Thanks, Japan! Just how much value does whale meat in dogfood cans add???
Hmm - Japan thinks "research killing" of 1000 whales annually, benefits the IWC. Thanks, Japan! Just how much value does whale meat in dogfood cans add???
