SHIMONOSEKI — A five-ship Japanese mission for "research whaling" in the Antarctic Ocean sailed from Shimonoseki port in Yamaguchi Prefecture on Friday.
The vessels in the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) mission, which will last for six months, include the 7,575-ton mother-ship Nissin Maru and the 747-ton Yushin Maru No. 2, a visual observation ship. The Nissin Maru will return to Kochi port in Kochi Prefecture in April, according to the ICR.
The ships are expected to catch about 400 minke whales in the Antarctic Ocean during the operation and make records of the numbers and habitation of the whales, the ICR said.
The mission is also expected to collect biological and environmental data concerning the whales in the area and report them to the science subcommittee of the International Whaling Commission, it said.
Japan started its so-called scientific whaling in the Antarctic Ocean in 1987 to gather biological data on whales. The Japanese fleet took photographs of them and conducted environmental surveys.
In the last season's operation, the fleet caught 440 minke whales, discovered 2,289 groups of minke whales, the largest number ever found in the ocean, and confirmed the presence of 5,460 minke whales, according to the ICR.
Many governments and organizations worldwide condemn such expeditions as a cover for commercial whaling, noting that meat from caught whales is later sold in Japan for consumption. (Kyodo News)
Article courtesy of Japan Today: http://www.japantoday.com
Please also visit: http://www.greenpeace.org
The vessels in the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) mission, which will last for six months, include the 7,575-ton mother-ship Nissin Maru and the 747-ton Yushin Maru No. 2, a visual observation ship. The Nissin Maru will return to Kochi port in Kochi Prefecture in April, according to the ICR.
The ships are expected to catch about 400 minke whales in the Antarctic Ocean during the operation and make records of the numbers and habitation of the whales, the ICR said.
The mission is also expected to collect biological and environmental data concerning the whales in the area and report them to the science subcommittee of the International Whaling Commission, it said.
Japan started its so-called scientific whaling in the Antarctic Ocean in 1987 to gather biological data on whales. The Japanese fleet took photographs of them and conducted environmental surveys.
In the last season's operation, the fleet caught 440 minke whales, discovered 2,289 groups of minke whales, the largest number ever found in the ocean, and confirmed the presence of 5,460 minke whales, according to the ICR.
Many governments and organizations worldwide condemn such expeditions as a cover for commercial whaling, noting that meat from caught whales is later sold in Japan for consumption. (Kyodo News)
Article courtesy of Japan Today: http://www.japantoday.com
Please also visit: http://www.greenpeace.org