Japan to resume commercial whaling

Japan is going to resume commercial whaling next July. The Japanese government confirmed yesterday that it was leaving the International Whaling Commission (IWC). This decision, which has sparked much international criticism, was announced by the government’s spokesperson Yoshihide Suga, who said that after July whaling will resume within Japanese territorial waters.

The IWC was created over seven decades ago to guarantee whale conservation and stop whales from being hunted indiscriminately, and Japan joined it on April 21 1951, and participated in the moratorium on commercial whaling agreed in 1982, although animal rights organizations say covert commercial hunting was being carried out, often under the guise of whale hunting for scientific research. Whale meat is considered by some to be an important part of Japanese culinary culture and Mr. Suga has stated that these cetaceans are no longer in danger of extinction and that the IWC focuses too much on conservation and not enough on sustainable whaling.

Regarding Japan’s withdrawal from the IWC, Mr. Suga said that Japan will act as an observer in the commission and that the Tokyo government is still committed to the responsible use of marine resources.