Another season of whale nonsense is about to kickoff:
Japan’s whaling fleet left port Tuesday for the country’s annual hunt in Antarctica, press pictures showed, with security measures beefed up amid simmering international protests.
Three ships, led by the 720-tonne Yushin Maru, set sail from Shimonoseki in western Japan on a mission officially said to be for “scientific research”, according to local media reports.
In past years, a mother ship has joined them later.
The government’s fishery agency declined to confirm the reports, citing security reasons.
“In consideration of safety, we cannot make public the timing of the fleet’s departure and its operational plans,” Shinji Hiruma, an official of the agency’s international division, told AFP.
He only confirmed that in “usual years” the fleet left port in November or December and returned around March.
In February, Japan cut short its hunt for the 2010-2011 season by one month after bagging only one fifth of its planned catch, blaming interference from the US-based environmental group Sea Shepherd.
The fleet aims to catch around 900 minke and fin whales this season, according to a plan submitted by the government to the International Whaling Commission. [AFP]
You can read more at the link.
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11:25 pm on December 9th, 2011 1
Yes, but.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/whalers-file-lawsuit-against-sea-shepherd-in-us-20111209-1on3p.html
This ought to be interesting. Maybe they’ve finally stopped playing around.
12:40 am on December 10th, 2011 2
Where’s “Captain” Fat Ass?
8:30 am on December 10th, 2011 3
900 whales for research purposes? Really, I’m for boycotting Japanese products simply because the Japanese government thinks we are morons.
1:32 pm on December 10th, 2011 4
900 whales? Irrespective of the antics of the Sea Shepherd and crew, mass whaling is just plain wrong.
It’s a whole lot of bad press for Japan — and a tremendous loss of soft power — to appease a dying industry. Few young Japanese (or Koreans) are interested in eating whale meat — and they are trying to prop it up however they can (feeding it to kids in school).
3:10 pm on December 10th, 2011 5
I ate whale meat and … it actually wasn’t that great.
4:05 pm on December 10th, 2011 6
Same here.
But I just thought of a thinner girl without all the hair on her arms.
4:47 pm on December 10th, 2011 7
Can anyone explain to me why hunting minke whales is bad? I’ll agree that the “research” aspect of it is a cop, but why is whaling bad in and of itself?
(No, minke whales are not endangered. The IUCN lists them as “least concern”.)
Oh, and Norway’s quota for 2011 is 1286 minke whales. But where’s the profit in demonizing Norway?
5:39 pm on December 10th, 2011 8
Joe 7, whales are sensitive, intelligent animals. One of them may know the secret to nuclear fusion. They should at least be interviewed before they’re slaughtered.
6:19 pm on December 10th, 2011 9
Maybe Japan can divert some of that research yen (pun intended) to examining how much radiation was picked up by sea life around the Fukushima plant and where those creature would be migrating to. I’m sure their neighbors would like to know.
9:14 pm on December 10th, 2011 10
Use of Government Recovery Funds Stokes Japan Whaling Row
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/12/08/use-of-recovery-funds-stokes-japan-whaling-row/
1:25 pm on December 15th, 2011 11
BBC: “Japanese tsunami fund used for whaling programme”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16064002
Japan has used funds from its tsunami recovery budget to subsidise its controversial annual whaling programme, environmental activists say.
4:40 pm on January 31st, 2012 12
Right the minke whales are indeed not endangered. But they do take others including but not limited to humpbacks and others that are endangered. All in the name of science. lol right. So if its not commercial then why the need for security? Unless its messing with the contries income. Hence it is indeed commerical. The only reason they are going on the hunt this year is because they had their pride hurt last year they couldent afford to do it this year but thanks to the relief money now they can.Not to mention all the surrounding contries that are agnist whaling came running to help. What do they get but a slap in the face with the return of the fleet this year. Whaling just like sealing is a dying act. Just no market.
4:56 pm on January 31st, 2012 13
They can have the minke. But why the endangered fin?
5:04 pm on January 31st, 2012 14
#9 excellent arguement. Like i said before they cant even run a powerplant safley. Why can they be trusted around endangered animals with dangerous weapons. Kinda scary.