Commercial whaling resumes in northeastern Japan after 32-yr hiatus english.kyodonews.net

KYODO NEWS - 3 hours ago - 18:40 | All, JapanThree Japanese ships set sail early Tuesday morning for the first commercial whaling expedition in 32 years off the country's northeastern Sanriku Coast.
But there were no voyages in Sanriku waters, as minke whales had already left the area and reached the waters around Hokkaido.
As an IWC member, Japan halted commercial whaling in 1988 but hunted whales for what it called research purposes, a practice criticized internationally as a cover for commercial whaling.
Tokyo says the resumed commercial whaling will only take place in nearby waters and within its exclusive economic zone.
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