Post by LSDeep on May 24, 2006 19:13:24 GMT -5
Tokyo - A Japanese research institute dispatched yet another fleet of whaling ships to the Pacific Ocean for what it claims is a scientific research programme on whales, Japanese media reported Tuesday.
Non-profit Institute of Cetacean Research sent out a 8,030-ton vessel and other four ships in hopes of catching no more than 260 minke, Bryde's, sei and sperm whales for observation and sampling in the north-western Pacific.
The research group is to gather data and study stomach contents and chemical pollutants in the marine animals before returning to Japan in mid-September.
After the research is completed, the whale meat will be sold at a fish market to finance future scientific programmes.
To help boost sales of whale meat in Japan, a new company was formed and in June will begin marketing whale meat as a low-calorie, low-fat source of protein to hospitals, supermarkets, restaurants and to individuals via the internet. More than 1,000 tons of whale meat caught by the Japanese research group in the Antarctic Ocean earlier this year will be for sale.
The Tokyo-based research institute conducted its last expedition to the Antarctic between November and March, when the fleet of eight ships caught more than 850 whales and 10 fin whales - which are classified as endangered.
Since 2000 Japan has increased the number of whales captured for research, with this year's catch of 850 minke whales more than double last year's haul.
Japan began its controversial whale research in 1987, after an international ban on commercial whaling the year before. Members of the International Whaling Commission have condemned Japan's scientific research as commercial whaling in disguise.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Non-profit Institute of Cetacean Research sent out a 8,030-ton vessel and other four ships in hopes of catching no more than 260 minke, Bryde's, sei and sperm whales for observation and sampling in the north-western Pacific.
The research group is to gather data and study stomach contents and chemical pollutants in the marine animals before returning to Japan in mid-September.
After the research is completed, the whale meat will be sold at a fish market to finance future scientific programmes.
To help boost sales of whale meat in Japan, a new company was formed and in June will begin marketing whale meat as a low-calorie, low-fat source of protein to hospitals, supermarkets, restaurants and to individuals via the internet. More than 1,000 tons of whale meat caught by the Japanese research group in the Antarctic Ocean earlier this year will be for sale.
The Tokyo-based research institute conducted its last expedition to the Antarctic between November and March, when the fleet of eight ships caught more than 850 whales and 10 fin whales - which are classified as endangered.
Since 2000 Japan has increased the number of whales captured for research, with this year's catch of 850 minke whales more than double last year's haul.
Japan began its controversial whale research in 1987, after an international ban on commercial whaling the year before. Members of the International Whaling Commission have condemned Japan's scientific research as commercial whaling in disguise.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur