WAKAYAMA (Jiji Press) — Private-sector fishery groups in Japan, including a related cooperative in the town of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, are set to resume commercial whaling in July, after the Japanese government decided last month to leave the International Whaling Commission, it was learned Thursday.
The planned restart will come 31 years after the country suspended commercial whaling in 1988, following the IWC’s decision in 1982 to impose a moratorium on such catches due to concerns over a depletion in whale resources.
The domestic fishery groups made the decision to restart commercial whaling at a general meeting of the Japan Small-Type Whaling Association, held on Jan. 8, sources familiar with the matter said.
A convoy of five whaling ships, including the No. 7 Katsu Maru, which belongs to the Taiji fishery cooperative, will depart on July 1 from Kushiro Port in Hokkaido or Hachinohe Port in Aomori Prefecture.
Taiji is traditionally known for its whaling culture.
During the voyage, which is expected to last for about seven days, the ships are expected to catch minke whales in areas including waters off the city of Kushiro, Hokkaido, the sources said.
The No. 7 Katsu Maru is expected to also carry out commercial whaling in August and later, in waters off Chiba Prefecture, where whales are known to be abundant, and other areas, according to the sources.
Yoshifumi Kai, head of the Japan Small-Type Whaling Association and a member of the Taiji cooperative, expressed joy, saying, “We’ll be able to catch fatty, tasty whales.”
