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Japan reduces whaling quota
The international protests and campaigns from environmental organisations such as Greenpeace seem to have some success. The Japanese whaling quota will be reduced.
According to Shigeki Takaya, a spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture's Far Seas Fisheries Division, "We received a lot of pressure from around the world, but particularly Australia and New Zealand, so we will not be catching humpbacks as part of the research programme."
Opponents of whaling believe that the quota drop is an indication that the struggling whaling industry is in retreat.
The announcement that te quota would be reduced came from the respected Asahi Shimbun newspaper.
But for Peter Garrett, Australia's federal Environment Minister it is still not enough. Although this would be the first reduction in the target since 1987 he said "But the Government's objective remains: bringing an end to all commercial whaling, including whaling in the name of science."
The Japanese also plan to take 50 Fin whales this year, but had difficulties finding the whales last season. The whaling fleet is ready to leave port, but no information was available when exactly that might be.
Source:
Te Papa Whale exhibition in Washington, DC