An international outcry led by Australia has forced Japan to backtrack on plans to kill 50 humpback whales as part of an annual ‘scientific’ whaling programme.
However, the controversial Japanese fleet, which is hunting for whales in sub-Antarctic seas, will still go ahead with plans to kill 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales – its largest ever hunt.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura allegedly said "The government has decided to suspend hunts of humpback whales while talks to normalize IWC is taking place, but there will be no changes to our stance on our research whaling itself".
Source: AP
