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.

Japan says the hunt is for so-called 'scientific research' but according to the WDCS, the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR), which runs the hunt, conducts the research and sells the meat, is desperately promoting whale meat to potential new customers.

The WDCS said that demand for whale meat is falling so fast in Japan that the ICR needs to reduce stockpiles of meat from its last hunt before this fleet returns with thousands more tons in its freezers.

The ICR has joined forces with cooking schools and chefs' associations around the country to offer cookery classes promoting whale meat as an ingredient in western cuisine.

In addition, a new private company backed by ICR is targeting school lunch programmes, meals-on-wheels services and caterers, all at less than market value, according to the WDCS.

The ICR recently held a whale meat tasting party serving western dishes for eighty executive chefs invited from Tokyo hotels and restaurants.

According to the Japanese press, the ICR hopes that chefs learning to create traditional western dishes such as Carpaccio steak, and pot-au-feu with whale meat will introduce the marine mammals to a new audience.

Sue Fisher, WDCS whaling expert said: "The Japanese government claims that eating whale meat is vital for Japan's cultural integrity and to preserve thousand year old social traditions.

"Exactly what part of whale meat pot-au-feu, ice-cream and burgers - all now promoted in Japan - preserves Japanese culture?

"The government is simply clutching at straws as the market collapses.

"The government has to reduce the price of whale meat every year to increase sales and thousands of tonnes are stockpiled, unwanted, in freezers. And yet, they still keep increasing the hunt. It makes no sense."

The WDCS said Japan's Ambassador to Iceland recently confirmed that Japan has more than enough whale meat to satisfy its internal market.

Asked if Japan would be importing whale meat from Iceland's newly resumed commercial hunt of fin whales, he responded that "the industry in Japan is in difficulty. Very few Japanese eat whale meat. We have more than enough in Japan."

Georgina Davies, WDCS Communications Manager added: "WDCS maintains its strong opposition to commercial whaling. We believe that it is completely unnecessary and irredeemably cruel. The three leading whaling nations, Japan, Norway, and Iceland, clearly have no need to go whaling."