(JP) Whale meat inventory up amid sluggish consumption

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Whale meat inventory up amid sluggish consumption

 

Japan's inventory of whale meat, a byproduct of

research whaling, has doubled in the past decade, it

was learned Saturday.

 

According to a report compiled by a group led by

freelance journalist Junko Sakuma, which accessed

agricultural ministry data and other sources to check

the inventory, the research whaling program has

expanded while consumption of whale meat has been

relatively sluggish.

 

Because the government has already widened the program

for this whaling season, the stockpile is likely to

get bigger.

 

Such a gap in supply and demand will likely invite

even more criticism from antiwhaling groups.

 

According to the report, the inventory was about 1,000

to 2,500 tons around 1995. It hit a low point of 673

tons in March 1998 but began to increase to reach

4,800 tons last August.

 

Research whaling is permitted under the rules of the

International Whaling Commission, but Australia and

other countries say Japan is conducting commercial

whaling in disguise.

 

Critics also claim Japan uses this as an excuse to

continue hunting.

 

The whaling is conducted by the Institute of Cetacean

Research with the government's approval.

 

The meat of whales caught by research ships is sold on

the Japanese market by the institute, with total sales

coming to about 6.5 billion yen a year, according to

the Fisheries Agency.

 

Those sales, along with government funds, pay for the

whaling.

 

The Fisheries Agency admits the whale meat inventory

is rising and has begun studying ways to expand sales

in Japan.

 

" It is true that such a trend exists. We will study

ways to expand sales channels as well as to reform

sales methods, " an agency official said.

 

Such moves by the government to stimulate the whale

meat market will probably draw more criticism from

antiwhaling groups that fear more consumption in

Japan.

 

Since 2000, the research whaling has been expanding in

terms of volume and number of species. On the other

hand, consumption has not increased as areas of high

demand for whale meat are limited in Japan.

 

" Unless the consumption of whale meat increases

dramatically, the stockpile of whale meat will surge, "

Sakuma said.

 

Earlier this month, 17 countries, including Britain

and Brazil, filed a request demanding Japan to stop

the research whaling program.

 

The protest was handed to the Foreign Ministry as well

as the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry,

and it calls on Japan to " cease all its lethal

scientific research on whales. "

 

The Japan Times: Jan. 29, 2006

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