Japan seeks to resume commercial whaling

JAPAN has asked the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to let it restart the commercial hunting of whales amid accusations of a “hostile takeover”.

It wants to kill almost 3,000 Antarctic minkes, nearly five times the current annual catch it is allowed for scientific research.

Anti-whaling groups attacked Japan, saying it was intent on buying its way to supremacy at the IWC, which introduced a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986.