Japan is facing heated criticism from conservationists after a report revealed that its whaling vessels killed 333 Antarctic minke whales in the Southern Ocean last summer, purportedly for the sake of scientific research. According to Lorraine Chow of EcoWatch, 122 of the slain whales were pregnant and 114 were immature.

These sobering statistics were included in a report presented this month at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) Scientific Committee meeting in Bled, Slovenia. According to Bard Wilkinson of CNN, the paper was prepared by the Institute of Cetacean Research, which is linked to Japan’s fisheries ministry.

The whales were shot with grenade-tipped harpoons, hauled onto a research vessel and dissected on site. Though explosive harpoons are intended to kill whales instantly, research has shown that they frequently do not result in immediate death. The gruesome nature of this hunting method was revealed in distressing detail last year, when the conservation group Sea Shephard released footage of a minke whale struggling after being struck with an explosive harpoon during a Japanese whale hunt that took place in an Australian whale sanctuary.

According to the report, the objective of the latest hunt was to obtain a variety of data about the whales, including their age, sexual maturity, stomach contents and nutritional condition. Much of this information, the authors claim, can only be obtained through “lethal sampling methods.” For instance, the report asserts that the whales’ age can only be ascertained by analyzing earwax plugs that build up over time.

But Alexia Wellbelove, Humane Society International Australia senior program manager, refutes this claim. “[N]on-lethal surveys have been shown to be sufficient for scientific needs,” she says in a statement.

And while Japan claims that its whaling is carried out for scientific purposes, the country allows whale meat to be sold in markets and restaurants, reports Nicole Hasham of the Sydney Morning Herald.

Japan established its scientific whaling program in 1987, one year after the IWC issued a moratorium on the commercial hunting of all whale species. By carrying out its hunts in the name of science, Japan is able to exploit a loophole in international regulations that allow certain quotas of whales to be killed for research.

In 2014, International Court of Justice ruled that Japan’s Antarctic whaling program was illegal and ordered it to be brought to an end. Japan responded by revoking its recognition of the International Court of Justice as an arbiter of whaling disputes, according to the Maritime Executive. The country resumed its Southern Ocean whale hunt in 2015.

Japan reportedly plans to hunt around 4,000 whales over the next twelve years. Elaine Lies of Reuters reported last year that the country’s government has “repeatedly said its ultimate goal is the resumption of commercial whaling.”

But activists hope that the latest figures to emerge from the IWC meeting will spur countries to put renewed pressure on Japan to stop its lethal whaling programs.

“Whales are already facing substantial threats including bycatch in fisheries and marine pollution,” Wellbelove says in the Humane Society statement. “Significant conservation efforts are underway worldwide to address these issues, so the least Japan could do is put away the harpoons.”</s>JAPANESE whalers harpooned 122 pregnant whales in Antarctica this summer, a shocking new report reveals.

As Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk flew to Japan for a trade mission on Tuesday, a global conservation group called on her to lobby the Japanese government to end whaling.

A new International Whaling Commission (IWC) report reveals that 95 per cent of the female whales slaughtered by the Japanese were carrying calves.

The whalers killed 333 minke whales - plus 122 unborn calves - in the Southern Ocean last summer.

"Apparent pregnancy rate of sampled animals was high'', the Japanese whalers stated in a new report to IWC's scientific committee meeting in Slovenia this month.

"One or two minke whales were sampled randomly from each … school using harpoons with a 30g penthrite grenade.''

The whalers killed one in every three of the protected marine mammals they spotted.

Eleven whales managed to avoid the harpoons by hiding in water with high-density ice.

Over three months, two Japanese ships equipped with cannons hunted the whales for 12 hours a day - harpooning some whales 10m long.

Commercial whaling was banned more than 30 years ago but Japan continues to hunt by using a loophole to kill whales for "scientific research''.

The Humane Society International (HSI) blasted the harpooning of pregnant whales as "truly gruesome and unnecessary''.

HSI senior program manager Alexia Wellbelove said the "scientific whaling'' was a front for the meat trade, as the whales were taken back to Japan for human and pet food.

"The killing of 122 pregnant whales is a shocking statistic and sad indictment on the cruelty of Japan's whale hunt,'' she said yesterday.

Ms Wellbelove called on Ms Palaszczuk to use her visit to Japan to lobby its government to stop whaling.

"They claim it's necessary to understand whale biology but that information can be obtained through a biopsy,'' Ms Wellbelove said.

"The whales often get used for pet food.''

The IWC report, written by employees of the Institute of Cetacean Research in Tokyo, the Kyodo Senpaku fishing company and Tokyo University, said the whales were killed to obtain data on the "age, sexual maturity and body length of the whales''.

The Japanese analysed the stomach content to "estimate prey consumption'' and measured blubber thickness to "study the nutritional condition'' of the dead whales.</s>Japanese hunters caught and killed 122 pregnant minke whales as part of an annual research in the Southern Ocean, a new report has revealed. According to a technical report sent to the International Whaling Commission, hunters caught 333 minke whales in total.

The report was prepared by representatives of the Institute of Cetacean Research, an agency linked to Japan’s fisheries ministry. The hunting team left for its Antarctic summer field survey in Japan 2017 and returned in March 2018.

Of the 333 minke whales that were caught during the expedition, 181 were female, while 53 were juvenile. “Apparent pregnancy rate of sampled animals was high [95.3%] and no lactating animal was observed in this survey,” the report said.

In 2014, the International Court of Justice had ordered a temporary halt to Japan’s annual programme in the Southern Ocean, after finding that the whaling was for commercial purposes and not scientific research. The country then announced a new programme in 2015 called Newrep-A, describing it as having a scientific purposes. Under this initiative, Japan is allowed to kill up to 333 Antarctic minke whales each year, CNN reported. However, critics have dismissed Japan’s new programme, calling it a cover to continue whaling for profit.

“The killing of 122 pregnant whales is a shocking statistic and sad indictment on the cruelty of Japan’s whale hunt,” Alexia Wellbelove of the Humane Society International, said in a statement. “It is a further demonstration, if needed, of the truly gruesome and unnecessary nature of whaling operations, especially when non-lethal surveys have been shown to be sufficient for scientific needs.”</s>Japan has slaughtered 333 Antarctic minke whales, plus 122 unborn calves, all in the name of science.

A Japanese research expedition also killed 114 immature whales, according to a report by the International Whaling Commission, during an annual summer hunt in the Southern Ocean in 2017.

Two Japanese vessels were involved in the expedition that was reportedly launched for “scientific research” and hunted the whales using harpoons loaded with 30g penthrite grenade. The killing method has generated controversy as it results in instant death in only 50 to 80 percent of the cases. That means many of the animals have to suffer an excruciating amount of pain before they die. The slain whales are then hauled aboard the research vessel, Nisshin Maru, where 12 researchers pull them apart.

Killing the whales in this brutal fashion is apparently necessary, researchers said, as “age information can be obtained only from internal earplugs and therefore only through lethal sampling methods.”

The researchers wanted to acquire data on the size, age, blubber and stomach content of minke whales in the South Ocean between Australia and Antarctica “to estimate prey composition and consumption.” Fat weight, blubber thickness and girth all are supposedly required to study the animal’s nutritional condition. Organs are also weighed using electronic scales and the skull is weighed with large calipers.

Japan’s fishery agency then reports the findings to the IWC. It also says the mass hunting of minke whales is carried out in accordance with the International Convention for Regulation of Whaling.

Japan maintains killing of the whales is based on purely scientific reasons. However, animal welfare critics believe the “research” is mainly a cover for commercial whaling as the flesh of the harpooned mammals is later sold in markets and restaurants, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

This allegedly self-serving attempt to revive the commercial whaling industry in Japan and other instances of Japanese vessels killing whales in protected waters, has led to international condemnation for the atrocious practice.

“It is further demonstration, if needed, of the truly gruesome and unnecessary nature of whaling operations, especially when non-lethal surveys have been shown to be sufficient for scientific needs,” said Alexia Wellbelove, the senior program manager for Humane Society International.

“They claim it’s necessary to understand whale biology but that information can be obtained through a biopsy,’’ she added. “The whales often get used for pet food.’’

The International Court of Justice deemed the Antarctic whaling program illegal in 2014. However, Japan withdrew its recognition of the court as an authority on whale disputes and resumed hunting the very next year, according to The Maritime Executive.

Japan has also announced plans to catch over 4,000 more whales by 2030, stated the Sydney Morning Herald.</s>Footage showing the killing of a minke whale by Japanese whalers in 2008 was released to the public for the first time on Tuesday, November 28, after Sea Shepherd Australia successfully sought a copy from the Australian government. The video shows the killing of a minke whale in an Australian whale sanctuary. In May 2017, the Australian Information Commissioner refuted the government’s concerns the release would harm relations with Japan, saying “the Department’s claim of damage to international relations is without foundation since images that are consistent with the footage in the documents is already available in the public domain.” “The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is an area of 50 million square kilometres surrounding the entire continent of Antarctica where the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has banned all types of commercial whaling,” Sea Shepherd Australia stated. “Despite a ban on all whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, Japan’s Whale Research Program continues to hunt Minke whales in the Sanctuary.” According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a Japanese embassy spokesman said the activity recorded was part of the “research” and conducted in accordance with the International Convention for Regulation of Whaling. Sea Shepherd Australia demanded that the Australian government “take a stand and put a stop to the slaughter, for good.” Credit: Sea Shepherd Australia via Storyful

Previously Unseen Footage Shows Whales Harpooned in Australian Sanctuary in 2008. Credit - Sea Shepherd Australia via Storyful 1:13

JAPANESE whalers harpooned 122 pregnant whales in Antarctica this summer, a shocking new report reveals.

As Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk flew to Japan for a trade mission on Tuesday, a global conservation group called on her to lobby the Japanese government to end whaling.

A new International Whaling Commission (IWC) report reveals that 95 per cent of the female whales slaughtered by the Japanese were carrying calves.

The whalers killed 333 minke whales – plus 122 unborn calves – in the Southern Ocean last summer.

“Apparent pregnancy rate of sampled animals was high’’, the Japanese whalers stated in a new report to IWC’s scientific committee meeting in Slovenia this month.

“One or two minke whales were sampled randomly from each … school using harpoons with a 30g penthrite grenade.’’

The whalers killed one in every three of the protected marine mammals they spotted.

Eleven whales managed to avoid the harpoons by hiding in water with high-density ice.

Over three months, two Japanese ships equipped with cannons hunted the whales for 12 hours a day – harpooning some whales 10m long.

Commercial whaling was banned more than 30 years ago but Japan continues to hunt by using a loophole to kill whales for “scientific research’’.

The Humane Society International (HSI) blasted the harpooning of pregnant whales as “truly gruesome and unnecessary’’.

HSI senior program manager Alexia Wellbelove said the “scientific whaling’’ was a front for the meat trade, as the whales were taken back to Japan for human and pet food.

“The killing of 122 pregnant whales is a shocking statistic and sad indictment on the cruelty of Japan’s whale hunt,’’ she said on Tuesday.

Ms Wellbelove called on Ms Palaszczuk to use her visit to Japan to lobby its government to stop whaling.

“They claim it’s necessary to understand whale biology but that information can be obtained through a biopsy,’’ Ms Wellbelove said.

“The whales often get used for pet food.’’

The IWC report, written by employees of the Institute of Cetacean Research in Tokyo, the Kyodo Senpaku fishing company and Tokyo University, said the whales were killed to obtain data on the “age, sexual maturity and body length of the whales’’.

The Japanese analysed the stomach content to “estimate prey consumption’’ and measured blubber thickness to “study the nutritional condition’’ of the dead whales.</s>Every Christmas, sailors from Japan go out into the Southern Ocean, taking "biological sampling" that aims to investigate "the structure and dynamics of the Antarctic marine ecosystem".

But no, they aren't trying to understand more about climate change, or investigating the mating songs of the ocean. They're out killing hundreds of Antarctic minke whales, and then letting the flesh be sold in markets and restaurants.

The latest figures have been released from meeting papers by the International Whaling Commission's scientific committee earlier this month.

According to those figures, 333 minke whales were killed in the 2017/2018 summer season in Australia. Of those, 122 were pregnant, and 114 were immature, meaning they were not yet able to breed.

The researchers wrote that killing the whales is necessary, as "age information can be obtained only from internal earplugs and therefore only through lethal sampling methods."

However, most researchers do not agree with this, as you can estimate the age of a whale by comparing its size to other whales that you know the age of.

The claims that whales need to be killed 'for science' have been debunked many times.

"It is well established in the scientific literature that there are many ways to study whale diet and condition without killing them," Leah Gerber, a marine conservation biologist at Arizona State University, told Science in 2013.

"The killing of 122 pregnant whales is a shocking statistic and sad indictment on the cruelty of Japan's whale hunt," says Alexia Wellbelove, from the Humane Society International.

The whales are killed by explosive grenade tipped harpoons that only kill the whale instantly 50-80 percent of the time.

And Japan allows the whale meat to be sold as a food product, removing even more credibility from its claims about scientific research.

Back in 2014, the International Court of Justice called on Japan to stop its whaling program, ruling it illegal.

In response, Japan has now withdrawn its recognition of the International Court of Justice in matters in regards to whaling.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Japan intends to kill around 4,000 whales over the next 12 years, and eventually resume commercial whaling.

"The continued killing of any whales is abhorrent to modern society, but these new figures make it even more shocking," concludes Wellbelove.

"We look forward to Australia and other pro-conservation countries sending the strongest possible message to Japan that it should stop its lethal whaling programs."

You can see the full report from the International Whaling Commission here.</s>Japan isn't the only country that practices whaling — or the only country to utilize the "scientific research" loophole. Reuters/Kyodo
• Meeting papers released by the International Whaling Committee revealed that Japan killed 333 whales in Antarctic waters during the 2017/18 austral season.
• Of those 333 whales, more than 120 were pregnant.
• Japanese whale hunters say they must continue this annual practice in the name of "scientific research," but there are more unintrusive methods to collecting the data needed.
• Japan allows the sale of whale meat in markets and restaurants.

Meeting papers released by the International Whaling Committee (IWC) this week reveal that Japan slaughtered 333 whales in Antarctic waters during the 2017/18 austral season - apparently, all in the name of "scientific research". Of those, more than 120 were pregnant.

Japan says it must continue this (almost) annual practice to understand "the structure and dynamics of the Antarctic marine ecosystem." Instead of hunting, they call it "biological sampling" and maintain it's essential to kill the whales to estimate their age, which they do by examining the size of the animal's earwax plugs. They also say they need to see the contents of the whale's stomach to estimate prey consumption as well as its blubber thickness, girth, and fat weight to estimate the specimen's health.

FYI, there is no scientific need to continue the practice of whale hunting. DNA sampling, remote monitoring, and sighting surveys are sufficient and relatively unintrusive methods that seem to be just as effective at monitoring whale behavior and population trends. Instead, the "scientific research" excuse is generally used by some countries to get around regulations on whaling, introduced in 1946 to limit commercial and aboriginal subsistence whaling.

It just so happens that Japan also allows the sale of whale meat in markets and restaurants - once done with the scientific research, of course.

The papers show that, in total, 344 Antarctic minke whales were targeted and, of those, 333 were killed during the last season. More than two-thirds hit were pregnant females. A further 114 immature whales (61 male and 53 female) were also hunted.

Minke Antarctic whales are a closely related but different species to the common minke whale and are only found in the Southern Hemisphere. It does not have a category on the IUCN Red List because there is not enough data to calculate its population.

The news of the latest hunt has been met with criticism.

"It is further demonstration, if needed, of the truly gruesome and unnecessary nature of whaling operations, especially when non-lethal surveys have been shown to be sufficient for scientific needs," said Alexia Wellbelove, the Humane Society International senior program manager, reports the Sunday Morning Herald. She adds that the whales already face risks to do with marine pollution and commercial fishing by-catch.

But it is worth pointing out that Japan isn't the only country that practices whaling - or the only country to utilize the "scientific research" loophole. Norway and Iceland continue to openly hunt whales for commercial reasons, flouting the international convention. This year, Norway upped its yearly whaling quota to 1,278 common minke whales.

And despite Japan's dwindling taste for whale meat, officials have already set their eyes on the re-introduction of commercial whaling. The Sunday Morning Herald reports they aim to hunt some 4,000 whales over the next 12 years.

Sign up here to get INSIDER's favorite stories straight to your inbox.</s>Over 120 pregnant whales have been killed in Japan in a hunt which scientists in the country described as 'scientific research'.

The latest killings were officially classed as 'biological sampling' aiming to investigate 'the structure and dynamics of the Antarctic marine ecosystem'.

But figures show that 333 minke Antarctic whales were killed last summer alone, of which more than 120 were pregnant females.

Around 67 per cent of the female whales killed were pregnant and 114 immature whales were killed on top of the fully grown minke.

The whales were killed by firing 'harpoons with a 30g penthrite grenade' into their bodies to deliver a fatal explosion.

Despite international condemnation of the practice, Japan continues its controversial practice of whaling in the name of scientific research.

The nation claims the animal's stomach contents are needed 'to estimate prey composition and consumption'.

But Local media said that whale flesh was also being sold by the bucket load in Japan's fish markets.

Alexia Wellbelove, a senior program manager at Humane Society International called the attacks 'a shocking statistic and sad indictment on the cruelty of Japan's whale hunt'.

'It is further demonstration, if needed, of the truly gruesome and unnecessary nature of whaling operations, especially when non-lethal surveys have been shown to be sufficient for scientific needs,' she told the Sydney Morning Herald.</s>Just 11 whales managed to get away from researchers by hiding in water with high-density ice, the report stated. Conducted by Japan's whale research program, NEWREP-A, the annual 83-day whale hunt takes place in the Southern Ocean.

As Sputnik previously reported, though commercial whaling has been banned by the IWC since 1986, Japan has been able to use a scientific research loophole as a means to continue killing the large cetaceans. Critics of Japan's "research" program say meat from the culled whales ends up for sale, and that the country's insistence on killing the animals also stems from resistance to bending to non-Japanese cultural ideas about what kinds of animals can be eaten or killed and which should be exempt.

"The killing of 122 pregnant whales is a shocking statistic and sad indictment on the cruelty of Japan's whale hunt," Alexia Wellbelove, senior program manager at Humane Society International, told the Independent. "It is further demonstration, if needed, of the truly gruesome and unnecessary nature of whaling operations, especially when non-lethal surveys have been shown to be sufficient for scientific needs."

Some non-lethal data-gathering techniques promoted by whale researchers include underwater acoustic methods, aerial surveys and satellite tagging.

According to the IWC report, the two Japanese ships used harpoons loaded with a 30-gram penthrite grenade to target the whales and conduct what it called "biological sampling" to investigate "the structure and dynamics of the Antarctic marine ecosystem." Once onboard, whales were measured and had their insides poked and prodded in order to collect data on their blubber and stomach contents.

The report goes on to add that stomach contents were needed in order "to estimate prey composition and consumption by Antarctic minke whales." The animals' blubber thickness, fat weight and girth, according to the report, were needed to "study the nutritional condition of the whales."

In accordance with IWC regulations, Japanese officials later shared the findings with the commission.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Wellbelove stressed that Australia, along with other countries against whaling, should send the "the strongest possible message to Japan that it should stop its lethal whaling programs."

According to website The Conversation, NEWREP-A, also known as New Scientific Whale Research Program in the Antarctic Ocean, was established in November 2014 in an effort to replace its previous whaling program, JARPA II. In March 2014, Japan's previous program was deemed "not for the purposes of scientific research" by the International Court of Justice, which made it illegal under the IWC's whaling regulations.</s>Japanese hunters in the Antarctic killed more than 120 pregnant minke whales last summer, reports said. The annual hunt prompted outrage among conservationists, condemning the slaughter as "abhorrent."

A newly released report showed 333 minkes were captured and killed by Japanese fishermen during the 12-week expedition in the Southern Ocean. Of the total killed, more than 120 were pregnant whales.

Japan said its whaling program is for scientific purposes, despite signing the International Whaling Commission's moratorium on its controversial "JARPA II" whaling program in 2014.

The Humane Society International (HSI) reported in 2015, Japan rebranded "JARPA II" claiming the new program was for "scientific research," thus exempting the hunt from the ban.

Japan's Fisheries Agency defended the slaughter, saying it was not targeting pregnant whales.

"We catch whales totally at random," said Yuki Morita, an official in charge of whaling at the agency. "The IWC scientific committee recognises the number of whales we hunt is at the level that is necessary for research, but not above the level that would hurt the conservation of the stock."

"We'd like to stress here that the high ratio of pregnant females is noteworthy... This shows there are many mature females, suggesting we can expect growth in resources stock," Yuki told Agence France-Presse.

A representative for the HSI expressed the organization's anger over the recent slaughters.

"The killing of 122 pregnant whales is a shocking statistic and sad indictment on the cruelty of Japan’s whale hunt," Alexia Wellbelove, Senior Program Manager at Humane Society International, said in a statement. "It is further demonstration, if needed, of the truly gruesome and unnecessary nature of whaling operations, especially when non-lethal surveys have been shown to be sufficient for scientific needs."

“Whales are already facing substantial threats including bycatch in fisheries and marine pollution. Significant conservation efforts are underway worldwide to address these issues, so the least Japan could do is put away the harpoons," she continued. "The continued killing of any whales is abhorrent to modern society, but these new figures make it even more shocking. We look forward to Australia and other pro-conservation countries sending the strongest possible message to Japan that it should stop its lethal whaling programs."

The Japanese Embassy has not yet commented about the issue and Tokyo insists its program is carried out "in accordance with the International Convention for Regulation of Whaling." Japan also said it will hunt about 4,000 whales over the next decade.

Tony Burke, Australia's shadow minister for the environment, called on the government to stop the annual hunt.

"There is nothing scientific about harpooning a pregnant whale, chopping it up and putting it on a plate. Japan’s position on this is absurd and the Australian government must not be silent," he said.
A consortium led by the Institute of Cetacean Research, which is linked to Japan's Ministry of Fisheries, reports that 333 Antarctic minke whales were killed in last summer's scientific survey. 122 of the whales were pregnant, and 114 immature.