Japan cuts whaling target in bid to resume hunt

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Japan cuts whaling target in bid to resume hunt
| November 18, 2014 | Updated: November 18, 2014 3:54am

TOKYO (AP) — Japan has slashed its whale catch target in the Antarctic by two-thirds in a bid to resume its annual whale hunt that an international court ruled must stop.

The Fisheries Agency said Tuesday that in its revised program, Japan seeks to catch 333 minke whales each year between 2015 and 2027, down from an earlier target of 935 minke and 50 fin whales.

Fisheries officials said the revisions factor in the issues cited in the International Court of Justice's April ruling that Japan must stop its whaling program because it wasn't scientific as Japan had argued.

Opponents say that what Japan describes as a research hunt is actually a cover for commercial whaling.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/science/article/Japan-cuts-whaling-target-in-bid-to-resume-hunt-5900125.php

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(Short article, no more at link.)

[UglyGreed]

1. They have tons and tons

of whale meat just sitting around.

[shenmue]

2. ...

[ladjf]

3. To the Japanese: Please stop killing whales. You don't even need the meat. nt

[Central Scruitinizer]

4. It is not meat Japan is after

Profits!

[Number9Dream]

6. Welcome to DU

Like your Zappa reference!

[Number9Dream]

5. Japan going back on abiding by court's decision

"However Japan will abide by the judgment of the court that places a great importance on the international legal order and the rule of law," spokesman Nori Shikata told ABC NewsRadio.
"We will abide by the decision of the courts and although we will consider a concrete future course of action very carefully, upon studying what is stated in the judgment, we will cease the current research whaling program in the Antarctic pursuant to the judgment."

"The court ruled that Japan must revoke current whaling permits and refrain from issuing any more."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-31/ijc-japan-whaling-southern-ocean-scientific-research/5357416

After agreeing to cease their whaling, now they say they just won't slaughter as many whales. I hope Australia is ready to back up enforcement of the whaling ban.