Latest Japanese whaling expedition nets 158 whales

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http://enn.com/news/wire-stories/2001/08/08082001/ap_whaling_44590.asp

 

Latest Japanese whaling expedition nets 158 whales

 

Wednesday, August 08, 2001

By Associated Press

 

TOKYO — Japanese ships have returned from an

expedition in the northwest Pacific with a quarry of

158 whales, 70 more than last year's hunt. They've

also added Bryde's and sperm whales to the usual catch

of Minke, the government said this week.

The decision last year to include Bryde's and sperm

whales in the hunt for first time triggered criticism

worldwide and brought threats of economic sanctions

from Washington.

 

Tokyo claims that with 22,000 Bryde's whales and

102,000 sperm whales in the northwest Pacific, the

hunt poses no threat to whale populations. But critics

say the purported research program is merely a front

for commercial whaling.

 

The fleet of five government vessels embarked on the

expedition on May 10. They entered port in Tokyo on

Tuesday morning, and a welcome home ceremony was held

shortly after their arrival, the Fisheries Agency said

in a press release.

 

The fleet caught 100 minke whales, 50 Bryde's whales,

and eight sperm whales, the agency said.

 

Japan is allowed to catch a limited number of whales

under a scientific research program sanctioned by the

International Whaling Commission. Japan defends the

program as a necessary means of monitoring whale

migration, population, and feeding habits.

 

But the United States, Britain, and other nations say

the hunts are a disguise for commercial whaling, which

the International Whaling Commission banned in 1987.

 

Despite the ban, whale meat is sold in Japanese

restaurants, which get their stock from the research

program.

 

Japan's annual research hunt is usually around 400

whales.

 

Copyright 2001, Associated Press

 

 

 

 

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