Japan to try for massive whale kill
Matthew Franklin; 5/6/08
The Japan Whaling Association believes data about to be released on the abundance of minke whales in the Antarctic will justify an increase in Japan’s annual whale kill to “tens of thousands”. Kevin Rudd has confirmed he will use his trip to Tokyo next week to increase diplomatic pressure on Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to stop whaling in Australian-controlled waters. Japan sends a whaling fleet to the Southern Ocean each summer, on the pretext of conducting scientific study. In reality the whales are killed for human consumption in restaurants. In December, Australia issued a demarche, or formal diplomatic protest, on behalf of numerous nations over Japan’s plans to cull about 900 minke whales and 50 fin whales.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23812697-5013404,00.html
Tags: Australia, Environment, Japan, Pacific