Japan’s government agrees to more funding for whale hunts

Japan’s Diet (parliament) has passed a law to help support commercial whaling through increased funding despite the falling demand for meat in the country.

The government has said that it will promote the consumption of whale meat in schools as well as financially help the country's whaling industry in securing hunting ships and crew.

This law comes after Japan resumed commercial whaling in July following withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission, the body that regulates whale hunting and prohibits commercial whaling.

The annual consumption of whale meat in Japan is reported to be around 5,000 tons compared with peak demand of 230,000 tons per year in the 1960s.