Guest guest Posted May 8, 2002 Report Share Posted May 8, 2002 http://story.news./news?tmpl=story & u=/ap/20020507/ap_wo_en_ge/japan_wha\ ling_2 Anti-whaling nations condemn Japan's plans to increase whale hunt Tue May 7, 9:24 AM ET TOKYO - The United States and other anti-whaling nations on Tuesday condemned Japan's plans to double its whale catch in the northwest Pacific and start harvesting a species it hasn't hunted in more than two decades. The delegation leaders of 15 nations attending the International Whaling Commission (news - web sites) conference in southwestern Japan presented Vice Foreign Minister Shigeo Uetaka with a joint communique denouncing the plan. " Our governments consider Japan's actions as undermining the authority of the IWC, and designed to undo the decades of progress that have achieved the substantial level of protection that whales enjoy today, " the statement said. Other signatories included Britain and Australia, two of the most vocal critics of Japan's research whaling program. Japan announced in February it will add sei whales to its annual whale harvest for the first time in 26 years. The nation's yearly catch in the northwest Pacific will rise to 260 whales — 150 Minke, 50 Bryde's, 10 sperm whales and 50 sei whales. That compares to the 246 whales Japan caught in the northwest Pacific over the past two year. Japan also hunts around 400 Minke annually in the Antarctic. The whale hunt is permitted by the IWC, but opponents say Japan's research whaling program is commercial whaling in disguise because most of the meat ends up in restaurants. Japan began research whaling in 1987, a year after the IWC banned commercial whaling. The IWC is holding its annual meeting in the southwestern port town of Shimonoseki, the former hub of Japan's whaling industry. Japan is pushing hard for a resumption of commercial whaling. But its campaign is expected to be defeated because a three-quarters majority is needed for adoption when the issue goes to a vote at the end of the conference in late May. Japan defended its plans to expand its whaling program after the anti-whaling nations presented their petition. " Including sei whales in the hunt is necessary from the perspective of fisheries resources management, " Vice-Foreign Minister Uetaka said in a statement. Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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