Japan urged to recall whaling fleet

Conservation groups called today for Japan’s whaling fleet to turn back as the first ship set sail for the annual hunt in the Southern Ocean.

Greenpeace said the fleet’s leading vessel, the Nisshin Maru, left from Japan today without its usual fanfare and under tight security.

Other ships are expected to leave later this month, heading to the Southern Ocean where they plan to catch up to 935 minke whales and 50 endangered fin whales.

Japan sends a fleet to the Southern Ocean each year as part of a “scientific” whaling scheme, although the whale meat is then sold on the Japanese market. There is an international ban on commercial whaling.

Greenpeace today accused the Japanese government of going ahead with the whaling programme even though it was an “expensive and embarrassing sham”.

The environmental group said there was confusion within the industry about how many whales would be targeted and widespread opposition to the programme both within Japan and internationally.

Jun Hoshikawa, executive director of Greenpeace Japan, said: “It’s the beginning of the end for Japan’s whaling programme.

“The whale meat market in Japan has collapsed; it’s time for Japanese taxpayers to demand the government stop subsidising this bankrupt programme, and to order the fleet home.”

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw) also called on the Japanese government to recall the whaling fleet.

Robbie Marsland, UK director of Ifaw, said: “For the 21st consecutive year, Japan is blatantly disregarding international laws and treaties by setting off to kill whales in the Southern Ocean.

“Ifaw opposes commercial whaling because it is unacceptably cruel. We urge Japan to abandon its whaling programme and recall its fleet.”

Last year’s hunt was beset by controversy as a result of skirmishes between the crews of the Japanese fleet and conservation group Sea Shepherd.

Sea Shepherd’s vessel, the Steve Irwin, is set to depart for the Southern Ocean from Brisbane at the end of November in a bid to prevent the whaling ships from killing whales.

But Greenpeace, which has also sent vessels to the Southern Ocean in previous years, said it was targeting its campaign within Japan this year.