Japanese whalers prepare for another hunt

["Ulhas Joglekar" <ulhasj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Wednesday
15 November 2000

Japanese whalers prepare for another hunt
TOKYO: Despite growing international criticism, Japan's research whaling
fleet is preparing to leave for waters off Antarctica in its second hunt of
the year, officials said Tuesday.
Preparations for the hunt are underway, according to Fishery Agency official
Takaaki Sakamoto. Sakamoto refused to disclose when the fleet would leave,
or comment on any other details.
The whaling fleet, which will reportedly leave Japan later this month, is
the second of the year. The first killed 88 whales, including Bryde's and
sperm whales, both protected under U.S. law.
Previously, Japan's research fleets took mainly minke whales, which are not
as scarce, and the expansion to the protected species has brought the
program under renewed criticism.
President Bill Clinton was expected to raise the issue with Japan's Prime
Minister Yoshiro Mori during talks on the sidelines of this year's
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit, which begins Wednesday in
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.
Commercial whaling has been banned for the last two decades, but Japan's
whale hunt is allowed by the International Whaling Commission as scientific
research.
Critics, however, say the whaling program is used as a front for supplying
restaurants with whale meat. Whale dishes are considered a delicacy in Japan
and the expensive meat served in restaurants comes from whales killed in
Japan's research program.
Japan has said it remains open to dialogue over its whaling program, but
that sanctions would strain relations. Clinton's options range from denying
Japan the right to fish in U.S. waters to stiffer penalties.(AP)
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