Japanese Whalers Prepare For Another Hunt

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Japanese Whalers Prepare For Another Hunt - Official

 

TOKYO (AP)--Despite growing international criticism, Japan's research

whaling fleet is preparing to leave for waters off Antarctica in its

second hunt of the year, officials said Tuesday.

 

Preparations for the hunt are underway, according to Fishery Agency

official Takaaki Sakamoto. Sakamoto refused to disclose when the fleet

would leave, or comment on any other details.

 

The whaling fleet, which will reportedly leave Japan later this month,

is the second of the year. The first killed 88 whales, including

Bryde's and sperm whales, both protected under U.S. law.

 

Previously, Japan's research fleets took mainly minke whales, which

aren't as scarce, and the expansion to the protected species has

brought the program under renewed criticism.

 

U.S. President Bill Clinton was expected to raise the issue with

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori during talks on the sidelines of

this year's

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit, which begins Wednesday

in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

 

Commercial whaling has been banned for the last two decades, but

Japan's whale hunt is allowed by the International Whaling Commission

as scientific research.

 

Critics, however, say the whaling program is used as a front for

supplying restaurants with whale meat. Whale dishes are considered a

delicacy in Japan and the expensive meat served in restaurants comes

from whales killed in Japan's research program.

 

Japan has said it remains open to dialogue over its whaling program,

but that sanctions would strain relations. Clinton's options range from

denying Japan the right to fish in U.S. waters to stiffer penalties.

 

 

 

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