Australia denounces Japan whaling trip
Date: 11-Nov-02
Country: AUSTRALIA
"It has been reported that the five-vessel Japanese fleet will leave port today on a six-month trip to Antarctica, where they plan to kill up to 440 minke whales," Australian Environment Minister David Kemp said in a statement.
"The Australian government leads international condemnation of this position...questioning Japan on the scientific validity and necessity for their lethal research programme," he added.
"The fact remains that whaling is also cruel and inhumane. Whales that have been harpooned often die painful and protracted deaths, as they may live for several minutes," Kemp said.
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has imposed a worldwide ban commercial whaling, but allows Japan to conduct whaling for scientific research. Environmentalists say Japan's whale catch lands in the country's restaurants.
An Australian proposal for two new whale sanctuaries, one in the South Pacific and one for the South Atlantic, failed at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in May.
Australia and New Zealand are the most fervent proponents of sanctuaries, saying populations of some whale species are still dangerously low and sanctuaries are vital to their survival.
Japan and other pro-whaling nations say sanctuaries are unnecessary because whales are already protected by a 1986 whaling moratorium.
Whales currently have two sanctuaries - in the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean - where no whaling is permitted, even for scientific research. The Japanese fleet is to hunt for whales north of the Southern Ocean.