Japanese whalers set sail for commercial hunting:

Five Japanese whaling vessels have set sail for the country's first commercial hunt in decades, in defiance of international criticism.

The whaling ships have a permit to catch 227 whales - minke, Bryde's and Sei - before the end of the year.

Japan's last commercial hunt was in 1986 however, it has continued whaling for what it says was research purposes.

It has now withdrawn from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) so is no longer subject to its rules.

IWC members had agreed to an effective ban on whale hunting, but Japan has long argued it is possible to hunt whales in a sustainable way.

The fisheries ministry has set a kill cap for the season of 52 minke, 150 Bryde's and 25 sei whales.

"The resumption of commercial whaling has been an ardent wish for whalers across the country," the head of the agency, Shigeto Hase, said at a departure ceremony in northern Kushiro for the small fleet.

He said the resumption of whaling would ensure "the culture and way of life will be passed on to the next generation."

"My heart is overflowing with happiness, and I'm deeply moved," Yoshifumi Kai, head of the Japan Small-Type Whaling Association, said. "People have hunted whales for more than 400 years in my home town."

"I'm a bit nervous but happy that we can start whaling," one whaler told news agency AFP before setting sail.

"I don't think young people know how to cook and eat whale meat any more. I want more people try to taste it at least once."

According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, minke and Bryde's whale are not endangered. Sei whale are classified as endangered but their numbers are increasing.

Conservationist groups like Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd remain critical of Japan's resumption of whaling but say there are no concrete plans for action against the country.

Japan "is out of step with the international community", Sam Annesley, executive director at Greenpeace Japan, said in a statement when Tokyo announced its whaling plans last year.

Like other whaling nations, Japan argues hunting and eating whales are part of its culture.

A number of coastal communities in Japan have hunted whales for centuries but consumption only became widespread after World War Two when other food was scarce.

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/japanese-whalers-set-sail-for-commercial-hunting/