Free Republic

Japan's whale meat stocks likely hit record high in Aug 2010 Wednesday 05th January, 02:32 PM JST TOKYO — Japan’s whale meat stocks may have reached a record high of over 6,000 tons last August, a conservation group said Wednesday, suggesting sluggish consumption of the meat, which comes from the country’s contentious whaling for what it calls research purposes. The finding will likely heighten calls for Tokyo to review its research whaling program as it is financed partly by revenues from sales of the meat as well as state subsidies, observers say. The Iruka & Kujira (Dolphin & Whale) Action...

TOKYO – A Japanese court on Monday convicted two members of the environmental group Greenpeace of stealing whale meat they claim was intended for illegal consumption. The Aomori District Court gave suspended sentences to the activists after finding them guilty of stealing 50 pounds (23 kilograms) of whale meat from a delivery service company's warehouse in April 2008. The meat came from whales killed during Japan's government-backed research hunts.

Iceland is to begin exporting whalemeat from its scientific whaling programme. Iceland's whaling commissioner told the BBC that up to two tonnes of minke whalemeat would be exported to the Faroe Islands. Environmental groups say the deal breaches international rules on trading threatened species, though Iceland and the Faroe Islands say it does not. Campaigners also say the trade could become a smokescreen for illegal hunting of whales. Although commercial whaling is banned worldwide, Iceland, like Japan, hunts minke whales for "scientific research"; this year its boats caught about 60 individuals. Until now, meat from the hunt has been sold...

NINE of every 10 whales killed by Japan last summer were in Australia's Antarctic whale sanctuary. Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell said a report by the Japanese Whale Research Program confirmed 50 humpback whales would be killed next summer, as well as 850 Antarctic minkes and 50 fin whales. He said maps in the report showed 90 per cent of kills last summer were in the Australian sanctuary. "The killing of whales by Japan in the Australian sanctuary is in clear breach of International Whaling Commission policy," said Senator Campbell. He told The Australian he was particularly concerned by the...

Whale burger on menu at Japanese fast food chainTOKYO (Reuters) - With Japan under fire for plans to expand its whaling programme, a fast food chain is offering a new product aimed at using up stocks from past hunts -- whale burger. The 380 yen slice of fried minke whale in a bun went on sale on Thursday at Lucky Pierrot, a restaurant chain in the port city of Hakodate on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido. "The taste and texture are somewhere between beef and fish," said Lucky Pierrot manager Miku Oh. "People in Hakodate have a long history of...

Whale expert: 'Best to destroy Keiko'While Keiko the killer whale frolicked in a western Norwegian fjord Tuesday, a local whale expert warned that Keiko may not survive the winter. If he doesn't detach himself from humans soon, it may be best to destroy him, he said.   While researchers discussed Keiko's fate, the affectionate whale snuggled up to their boat.  PHOTO: KJELL HERSKEDAL / SCANPIX RELATED ARTICLES Experts fear Keiko is too fond of people - 03.09.02 Famous whale 'Keiko' swims into fjord - 02.09.02Pictures: Keiko's remarkable life - 03.09.02 Niels Oeien of the Institute for Marine Research in Bergen, who...