Japan urged to stop whaling programme

Updated 17.19 Fri Dec 21 2007
Keywords: Whaling, Masahiko Komura, Gordon Brown, Japan

The Japanese government has been handed a formal diplomatic written statement by the UK and 29 other countries urging it to stop its whaling programme in the Antarctic.

The statement was delivered by the Australian ambassador to Japan and called on the country to "cease all its lethal scientific research on whales, and assure the immediate return of the vessels" which are taking part in the hunt.

UK Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw will meet Japanese embassy officials in London to communicate the UK's "outrage" at plans to kill 50 fin and 935 minke whales.

UK Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw will meet Japanese embassy officials in London to communicate the UK's "outrage" at plans to kill 50 fin and 935 minke whales.

Mr Shaw said: "Britain is against all forms of whaling except very limited subsistence whaling by indigenous people.

"Japan's so-called 'scientific' whaling is unacceptably cruel, scientifically unnecessary, and of no economic value."

The statement comes as Japan has announced it has abandoned plans to kill 50 humpbacks as part of an annual "scientific" programme.

But the Japanese fleet is still planning to go ahead with plans to kill more than 90 minke whales and 50 fin whales.

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