Japan's return to commercial whaling brings criticism from conservationists and praise from industry players www.japantimes.co.jp

Commercial whaling will be resumed only within the country’s exclusive economic zone — or 200 nautical miles from its shores.
At its peak in the 1960s, the consumption of whale meat reached as high as over 200,000 tons.
But whether commercial whaling can become an economically viable business remains to be seen, and some are expressing their doubts over the long-term future of the industry.
That lack of appetite for whale meat might also reflect a wider sentiment about whaling in general among the Japanese public.
The poll found that 55 percent of 1185 respondents were neutral about commercial whaling, while 14 percent opposed it and 11 percent strongly supported it.