The 2005/2006 Japanese Antarctic hunt looks set to be the most controversial yet. Flying in the face of international public opinion and political pressure, the Japanese fleet set sail on 8th November. This so called ‘research programme’ has long been contentious, but the controversy over this hunt reached new heights earlier in the year when Japan announced that they intended to expand the Antarctic hunt: killing twice as many minke whales and targeting a new species, the fin whale. The fin whale is the second largest whale species.

WDCS’s Philippa Brakes said: “After many years of so this so called ‘research’ there is still little to convince the word that these hunts are even remotely justifiable. Japan must consider very carefully the political implications of continuing to go against world opinion, by systematically using the exception of ‘special permit’ whaling as a thin veil for the commercial killing of ever increasing numbers of whales.
“This action by Japan is a sad indictment on modern resource diplomacy. WDCS has long advocated the principle that whales are worth more alive than dead, through well managed whale watching. We must not forget that whales are migratory animals, they move through the open oceans and through the EEZ’s of many range states. They are not the ‘property’ of any one nation, to be exploited at will.”

With conservation organizations also in the Antarctic waters with the intention of disrupting the Japanese hunts, click on the links below to find out more:


Man overboard in latest whaling clash:

Japan accuses Greenpeace of prolonging whale deaths.

Japan says clashes at sea could reduce whale catch.

New Zealand Government has no plans to send a frigate to watch whaling stoush

Military may defend Japanese whalers.

Orions sent to monitor whale protests.

Japan demands Greenpeace muzzle.

Japanese officials say police may be asked to help whalers.

Greenpeace undeterred by ship collision.

Whalers ram Greenpeace ship.

Harpoon raises whale stakes – a harpoon from a Japanese whaling vessel was fired between two inflatable boats, according to Greenpeace reports.


For more information about whaling please click here.

For the Greenpeace website: click here.

Source: WDCS