Global News - November 2007

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Japan refuses to halt humpback whale hunt

Tue 27 November 2007 13:15 UK — Asia,Marine Wildlife

Japan has pledged to push ahead with its plans to hunt whales, despite the Australian election being won by a party who have previously questioned the legality of its whaling missions.

The Australian Labor Party, which triumphed in national elections on Saturday (November 24th), had previously called for legal action against Japanese whaling in Antarctic waters, Reuters reported.

However, while a Japanese government minister recognised the anger that its latest hunt for humpback whales was causing in Australia, he stated that they had no plans to change their research whaling programme.

"Humpback whales are very popular in Australia. I have heard that to catch and kill a humpback whale is a very emotional thing," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura.

"We have discussed this within the government, but for the moment we are continuing as planned," he added.

The Japanese fleet heading to the Antarctic is aiming to kill up to 50 humpback and 50 fin whales, as well as 935 minke whales, USA Today reported, with the country's Fisheries Agency claiming it is their largest ever scientific whale hunt.

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