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New government marine wildlife code to help reduce dolphin disturbance

The launch today by UK Government of new guidance on how to act responsibly around...

UK government to extend ivory ban to stop the sale of orca teeth

Following the UK ban on the import, export and dealing of elephant ivory in 2022,...

Dead whale beauty products to be sold in Japanese vending machine stores

Antarctic minke whale alongside Japanese whaling ship. Photo © Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert Japanese whale hunting company,...

Arrests made following illegal whale meat smuggling from Japan to South Korea

Customs authorities in Busan, South Korea, have arrested six people for allegedly smuggling at least...

Japan launches new campaign to push whale meat consumption

Japan’s Institute for Cetacean Research, the body behind the country’s cruel whale hunting, has launched a new campaign to try to sell vast stockpiles of whale meat by claiming that it enhances physical strength and reduces fatigue.

Around 5,000 tonnes of whale meat currently sits in freezers around Japan because demand is so low. Younger Japanese generations have turned away from eating whale meat and so the institute hopes to renew their interest by advertising whale meat as a great source of balenine – a substance that supposedly enhances energy and physical health. Out of desperation, the meat is also being fed to soldiers to ‘boost their strength’

Japan uses a loophole in the ban on commercial whaling by claiming it is only killing whales for scientific purposes. However, some whale and dolphin meat contains significant amounts of toxins and this new drive to convince a sceptical nation to eat the meat is further proof that Japanese whale hunts are far from being scientific.

About George Berry

George is a member of WDC's Communications team and website coordinator.