Japan 'goes whaling as market collapses'

The Japanese whaling fleet is preparing to sail to an Antarctic hunting ground despite low demand for whale meat, wildlife campaigners warned today.

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) said that following Iceland's heavily criticised resumption of commercial whaling last month, the Japanese fleet is preparing to depart for the Antarctic whale sanctuary, where it will target ten endangered fin whales as well as up to 900 minke whales.