Japanese schools have been putting whale meat back on its menus, slowly since 2005. The meat is sold to schools at one-third the market price in an effort to expand consumption, according to a report released on Saturday.
A survey taken from June to August 2010 showed that 18 percent of the country’s 30,000 elementary and junior high schools that serve lunch, offered whale meat at least once in the past year, the Japan Times reported.
In the 1980’s, an international agreement to stop commercial whaling caused the supply of meat to fall from 220,000 tons in 1962 to 1,000 tons in the 1990’s, at which time it disappeared from school menus.
Since 1987, Japan declared all of their whaling operations “scientific research” carried out by the Institute of Cetacean Research. The meat is now called a “byproduct” sold to cover government expenses.
Starting in 2005, Japan has been increasing its whale catch again. The institute now has 4,000 tons in stock.
“It is obvious that (Japan) continues whaling despite there being little demand,” said Jun Hoshikawa, executive director of Greenpeace Japan in Japan Times.
He said the general public is not buying whale meat so it is likely the government targets schools.
Japan aims to resume commercial whaling and wants to increase consumption. The Institute offers the meat at one third of the market price (about US$55 per pound in 2009), to the schools.
A survey taken from June to August 2010 showed that 18 percent of the country’s 30,000 elementary and junior high schools that serve lunch, offered whale meat at least once in the past year, the Japan Times reported.
In the 1980’s, an international agreement to stop commercial whaling caused the supply of meat to fall from 220,000 tons in 1962 to 1,000 tons in the 1990’s, at which time it disappeared from school menus.
Since 1987, Japan declared all of their whaling operations “scientific research” carried out by the Institute of Cetacean Research. The meat is now called a “byproduct” sold to cover government expenses.
Starting in 2005, Japan has been increasing its whale catch again. The institute now has 4,000 tons in stock.
“It is obvious that (Japan) continues whaling despite there being little demand,” said Jun Hoshikawa, executive director of Greenpeace Japan in Japan Times.
He said the general public is not buying whale meat so it is likely the government targets schools.
Japan aims to resume commercial whaling and wants to increase consumption. The Institute offers the meat at one third of the market price (about US$55 per pound in 2009), to the schools.
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