Japan catches 59 whales off Kushiro

[icymist]

Japan catches 59 whales off Kushiro
Tuesday 20th October, 06:21 AM JST

TOKYO —
Japan said Monday it has caught 59 whales—one short of the maximum allowed by international guidelines—under a research program that critics say is a cover for commercial whaling.

The annual expedition off the port city of Kushiro ended over the weekend after harvesting 59 minke whales, the Fisheries Agency said in a statement. A maximum of 60 is allowed under the research program authorized by the International Whaling Commission.

Japan and other pro-whaling nations have been pushing for the IWC to revoke the 1986 ban on commercial hunts amid arguments over the number of whales left in the world’s oceans.

Japan also annually hunts about 1,000 whales in the Antarctic Ocean and the northwest Pacific Ocean under an IWC research program.

Critics say the expeditions are a cover for commercial whaling because the harvest is sold to market for consumption.

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Anybody here watch Whale Wars on Animal Planet?

[ddeclue]

1. You "catch" baeballs. You KILL whales.

big difference.

[Bonobo]

2. What's a baeball? nt

[ddeclue]

5. It's a baSeball that lost its "s"..

:blush:

[Sal Minella]

3. Or . . . you "catch" a cold. You "extirpate" whales.

Depending on what country one is from, of course.

[icymist]

4. That's the headline they used.

That's how Japan writes it all off.

[flvegan]

6. Meet the Ady Gil:

See you miserable fucks in a few months.

[jaksavage]

7. What the hell is that?

The bat mobile or boat mobile?

[flvegan]

8. f/k/a The Earthrace.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthrace

[icymist]

10. Damn! Get that thing over to the Sea Shepards pronto! n/t

[1]

11. if the sea shepherds ever want to hold a fundraiser, they should offer rides in that bad boy...

you know, like the russians offer rides into space.

that must be a blast when they open up the throttle...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. It's for mowing manatees in half.

Fuckin sea cows.

[icymist]

13. Hey! Lay off the manatees!

I used to work with a CNA I called the manatee. Anyway, the manatees have just as much a rifgt to exist as you do!

[Occam Bandage]

9. Here's what I don't get about Japan.

The country has an excellent, centuries-old history of terrestrial resource management. As cramped as the country is, they manage to leave the bulk of their forests virtually untouched. But when it comes to marine resources, they exploit as if there won't be a tomorrow.