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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... Latest Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| NOVEMBER 6, 1998 7:38 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Greenpeace International John Frizell, Greenpeace International, mobile +31 6 53 66 29 70 |
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| Japan Sends Brand New Whaling Vessel To Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary | ||||
| AMSTERDAM - November 6 - Japan's
whaling fleet of five ships, complete with a newly built whale catcher, departed Japan
today at 14:00 to hunt whales in an Antarctic whale sanctuary. The Yushin Maru is the
first new whaler built by Japan in 26 years and the Japanese press has described it as
"a symbol for the reopening of whaling". Whale meat from the hunt, described as 'scientific research' by the Japanese Government, is expected to retail for more than 50 million US dollars on the open market when the fleet returns to Japan in the spring of 1999. "To describe this commercial whaling operation as scientific research is an insult to science," said John Frizell of Greenpeace International. This newly built whale catcher is a modern ship with high powered engines and incorporates the latest equipment. The cost of building this vessel is estimated at over 14 million US dollars. "Japan is catching whales in a whale sanctuary, intending to open that sanctuary for full scale commercial whaling", said Frizell. "Japanese industry is investing millions of dollars in new equipment to assist the whalers. This is commerce, not science". The most recent meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), formally noted "the grave concerns of eminent members of the international scientific community over the continuation of lethal whale research programmes". The IWC has also noted that the results of Japan's Antarctic programme are not required for management of whales. "The alleged research is aimed at finding the most efficient way to exploit whales in the Antarctic," said Frizell "but the IWC has declared the entire ocean surrounding Antarctica a whale sanctuary, where all commercial whaling is forbidden. The real objective of this research is to provide 2000 tons of whale meat". Japan was the only member of the IWC to formally object to this whale sanctuary. Earlier this year, when an international regulatory body decided against increasing the quota for the critically endangered southern bluefin tuna, Japan announced a "scientific fishing" programme and caught 1,400 tons of the fish in addition to its quota. Japan's whaling fleet is owned by three large fishing companies, Maruha, Kyoku and Nippon Suisan which each hold a 32% stake in the fleet. They are thought to be the source of financing for the new catcher boat. ### FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: |
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