TOKYO (AP) -- A Japanese whaling fleet left port today for the Antarctic, where it plans to catch about 400 minke whales for research purposes, 100 more than last year.
The International Whaling Commission voted to ban commercial whaling in 1986, but left each nation the option of carrying out research whaling. Japan has conducted a hunt every year since then.
Japan, the world's largest consumer of whale meat, says the research is needed to accurately gauge whale populations and migrations, but critics say the program is an attempt to keep its whaling industry alive./
In May, Tokyo submitted to the IWC a report on plans to raise the catch quota to 400, with the hunting area expanded.
"The new catch quota is apparently intended to boost whale meat supplies," said Junko Sakurai of the environmental group Greenpeace, which opposes whaling.
Takanori Ohashi of the Fisheries Agency denied the charge, saying the increased catch is a result of expanding research.After being examined, the whale carcasses are distributed to wholesalers and restaurants for sale across Japan.