NZ to Urge Japan to Stop Whaling at International Meeting

Protests and controversy surround the International Whaling Commission’s annual meeting as it kicks off in Chile this week. As 79 member states gather in Santiago, New Zealand’s Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick is expected to ask Japan to suspend its whaling practice.
NZ to Urge Japan to Stop Whaling at International Meeting
Japan agreed to halt its kill of 50 humpback whales for two years in 2007, but their tally of 1000 whales killed per season remains. David Brooks/AFP/Getty Images
Charlotte Cuthbertson
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<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/whale_75861038.jpg" alt="Japan agreed to halt its kill of 50 humpback whales for two years in 2007, but their tally of 1000 whales killed per season remains.  (David Brooks/AFP/Getty Images)" title="Japan agreed to halt its kill of 50 humpback whales for two years in 2007, but their tally of 1000 whales killed per season remains.  (David Brooks/AFP/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1835155"/></a>
Japan agreed to halt its kill of 50 humpback whales for two years in 2007, but their tally of 1000 whales killed per season remains.  (David Brooks/AFP/Getty Images)

Protests and controversy surround the International Whaling Commission’s annual meeting as it kicks off in Chile this week. As 79 member states gather in Santiago, New Zealand’s Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick is expected to ask Japan to suspend its whaling practice.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals’ Programmes Manager, Bridget Vercoe said that strong opposition to commercial whaling was part of New Zealand’s national identity.

“New Zealand has long prided itself as a leader in animal welfare. Scenes of bleeding, thrashing whales being dragged on to whaling ships horrifies most New Zealanders.”

Recently, two Greenpeace activists have been arrested while attempting to uncover a corruption scandal involving the Japanese whaling industry.

Whales are usually killed with explosive harpoons that detonate inside their bodies.

The 60th International Whaling Commission meeting will run from 23-27 June.

Charlotte Cuthbertson
Charlotte Cuthbertson
Senior Reporter
Charlotte Cuthbertson is a senior reporter with The Epoch Times who primarily covers border security and the opioid crisis.
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