Japan Slaughters 59 Whales, Just One Short Of Maximum Allowed

Japan Slaughters 59 Whales, Just One Short Of Maximum AllowedJapan’s annual whaling expedition off the port city of Kushiro has resulted in the killing of 59 minke whales - just one whale short of the 60 allowed by international guidelines.
Under the cover of its so-called research program, Japan has slaughtered 59 minke whales - almost the maximum of 60 authorized by the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

The expedition reportedly took the lives of 36 male and 23 female minke whales, and the Fisheries Agency claims that the slaughter is for the purpose of studying the whales’ “feeding patterns and their effect on fish stocks.”

In addition to these killings, Japan also slaughters about 1,000 whales in the Antarctic Ocean and the northwest Pacific Ocean under an “IWC research program”.

Because the whale meat ends up in the marketplace for consumption, it is strongly suspected by conservationists and environmental organizations that Japan’s “research” is actually a cover for its ongoing commercial whaling operations.

Source: GO Media - Written by Rhishja Larson - Image: Wikimedia Commons

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written by gmk , October 21, 2009
Well i am no fan of hunting whales, but really to direct anger at a country that for the past 100 years + has carried out a practice that is cutural, historical and of course financial to a certain degree illustrates how misdirected your anger is.

They are merely working with in the framework dictated to them - so they are doing no wrong except to offend your bleeding heart senses.

If you were actually genuine about your anger instead of expressing outrage on the internet you would be petitioning the folks who came up with the "international guidelines" - but thats probably to much effort - so your concience is placated by commeting on a blog. Great Effort! Not!

Just like a South African minister can buy a car for 1 million plus - we all shout and scream but the reality is the framework they are given is their guide. Thats not to say its right.

And its the guidelines that need changing not the Japanese's habit of culling whales.
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written by Trevor , October 21, 2009
These butchers have no respect for the environment, or the planet we live on - they continue with this outragous practice, in spite of world wide condemnation.
The so called international "guidelines" should be reviewed now, and a total ban placed on this savage killing.
Japan should hang their heads in shame, for allowing this slaughter.
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written by Catherine , October 20, 2009
Difficult to study the feeding habits of a dead butchered whale lying in a supermarket fridge! Disgraceful that this is still allowed!
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