Press release - 6 November, 2003
A fleet of 5 whaling vessels sailing shortly from Japan to the Antarctic is operating under false pretences, Greenpeace said today.
Greenpeace action against Japanese whaling in Southern Ocean.
"They pretend it is scientific research but the body they say
they are doing it for (1) has asked them not to do it," said John
Frizell of Greenpeace. "The scientists have said they don't need
the data produced. The real product is whale meat which will be
sold on the open market."
The whaling is being conducted on a population that may be in
decline. Scientists are unable to agree how many of these whales
there are.
"Calling the program 'scientiifc' is an insult to science",
added Frizell. "The Government of Japan should call it off."
The Icelandic Government restarted whaling this autumn and plan
to continue and expand the hunt in the coming years. Greenpeace
strongly opposes this program and has offered the Government to
promote whale watching and nature tourism in Iceland if whaling is
stopped.
Notes: 1. The 'research' is being done under a loophole in the rules of the International Whaling Commission.