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Following intense international pressure, Japan decided in late 2007 to abandon its plan to hunt endangered humpback whales.
A Japanese whaling fleet is, however, currently hunting over 1000 whales of other species in Antarctic waters. Japan hunts whales as part of a scientific research programme that has been approved by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), and opposes a global moratorium on whaling. The longstanding, contentious issue will again be discussed at an intersessional meeting on the future of the IWC in March in London.
Many anti-whaling countries welcomed Japans plan to abandon any hunt of the endangered humpback whale, although they called for a total withdrawal of hunting activities.
Commenting on the political climate in Japan, Greenpeace Executive Director Gerd Leipold, speaking at the annual World Economic Forum meeting, said “I think we’re quite pleased with what is happening, an opening up in the Japanese media, which is beginning to ask the question, why so much of taxpayers’ money is being spent on something that is not essential for our economy and that damages our reputation.” Leipold added that “Young people in Japan don’t eat whale meat any more.”
“Greenpeace Hopeful of Stopping Japan Whaling,” REUTERS, 24 January 2008; “Japan Removes Humpback Whales from Antarctic Hunt,” REUTERS, 24 December 2008; “Japan Suspends Humpback Whale Hunt,” ENS, 21 December 2007.
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