TOKYO (AP) — Hundreds of pro-whaling Japanese officials,
lawmakers and lobby group members vowed Tuesday to continue whale hunts
despite a world court ruling that ordered the country to halt its
Antarctic whaling program.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told the meeting that Japan must protect its
whale-eating culture and secure sources of whale meat. Japan as a
maritime nation "has a policy of harvesting and sustainably using the
protein source from the ocean, and that is unshakable," Hayashi said.
Cutlets,
sashimi, steak and other dishes made of whale meat were served at the
gathering near Japan’s parliament, attracting many participants.
"Whale!" they shouted together in a toast, pledging to continue their fight over the animal.

The
International Court of Justice ordered Japan on March 31 to stop
granting permits for its Antarctic whaling program, which allowed an
annual catch of about 1,000 whales. The court rejected Japan’s
contention that the program was scientific, not commercial.
Japan
announced it will cancel next season’s Antarctic expedition after the
ruling but hasn’t decided whether to conduct two other programs — one
along Japan’s northern coast and another in the northern Pacific — both
set to begin within weeks. Japan kills about 300 minke whales annually
in those programs.
The court ruling technically leaves the door
open for Japan to propose a redesigned scientific whaling program in the
Antarctic, but any new plan would face intense scrutiny. Officials
generally agree that the most likely scenario is for Japan to withdraw
from the Antarctic and continue the remaining programs.
Japan’s coastal whaling dates back to the 12th century, though its Antarctic expeditions began in the
1930s.
The
research hunts started in 1987 following an international moratorium on
commercial whaling. The whale meat is sold in Japan to help finance the
program, but sales have fallen as whale meat became less popular,
forcing sharp increases in government subsidies to keep the program
afloat.
The Japanese fleet returned home in early April, ending
the 2013-14 season with what may be its last Antarctic harvest: 251
minke whales, or just a quarter of its quota.
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