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Seeking sanctuary – Iceland’s complex relationship with whales

Antarctic minke whale alongside Japanese whaling ship.

What now for the whales of Japan?

News that Shinzo Abe is stepping down as Japan’s prime minister could be another nail in the coffin for the country’s whaling industry. It offers the Japanese government a rare opportunity to press the reset button on a practice which costs it dearly, in subsidies and international reputation. Abe is Japan’s longest serving prime minister.…

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Whalers turn whale watchers

WDC and the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund are celebrating the launch of two boats that will be dedicated to whale and wildlife watching tours. The two vessels will operate out of Barrouallie, a place better known for the hunting of pilot whales, orcas and some species of dolphins. However, since 2014, WDC has supported…

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Rugby World Cup fans warned of whale meat risk

WDC has launched an awareness campaign today calling on people visiting Japan for the Rugby World Cup this autumn to be like most Japanese people and steer clear of whale meat. Rugby fans are being warned of the potential risk of finding whale meat in Japanese foods, even in familiar sounding dishes such as curry,…

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Whaling in Japan, who wins and who loses?

As the G20 global leaders meet in Japan, Whale and Dolphin Conservation’s CEO, Chris Butler-Stroud reflects on the political motivations that keep the whaling industry alive, despite the fact that up to 95% of Japanese people very rarely or never eat whale meat. So it would appear that those in control of Japanese whaling policy…

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WDC joins celebrities’ call for G20 action over Japanese government’s return to commercial whale slaughter

Celebrities and conservation and welfare organisations (including WDC) from across the globe are calling for an ‘international whaling intervention’ to be staged at the G20 summit in Osaka as summit hosts Japan prepare to launch a renewed commercial whaling programme. The summit begins today just days before Japan will leave the International Whaling Commission (IWC – the…

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