Japan in whaling rown

New Zealand today attacked as "despicable" Japan’s plans to again kill hundreds of minke whales in Antarctic waters.

A fleet of five vessels was to leave from the southwestern Japanese port of Shimonoseki later to catch up to 400 minke whales during a six-month hunt in oceans near Antarctica.

Japan’s whale hunt is allowed by the International Whaling Commission as scientific research.

Japan says the hunts provide information on whale feeding habits and migration patterns, but critics say the programme is merely a cover for supplying restaurants with whale meat, a delicacy in Japan.