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| Japan to commence whaling mission | Japan to commence whaling mission |
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| Japan has confirmed that it will carry out its largest whaling programme in the South Pacific. | Japan has confirmed that it will carry out its largest whaling programme in the South Pacific. |
| The mission, expected to draw strong protests from environmentalists, will depart on Sunday and breaks a 44-year moratorium on hunting humpback whales. | The mission, expected to draw strong protests from environmentalists, will depart on Sunday and breaks a 44-year moratorium on hunting humpback whales. |
| Japan's fisheries ministry said the fleet had instructions to kill up to 1,000 whales, including 50 humpbacks. | Japan's fisheries ministry said the fleet had instructions to kill up to 1,000 whales, including 50 humpbacks. |
| Japan was forced to abandon commercial whaling in 1986, but has since carried out whaling for "scientific research". | Japan was forced to abandon commercial whaling in 1986, but has since carried out whaling for "scientific research". |
| Four whaling ships, including the lead craft Nisshin Maru, will depart from the southern port of Shimonoseki. | Four whaling ships, including the lead craft Nisshin Maru, will depart from the southern port of Shimonoseki. |
| The 239-man mission plans to kill more than 900 minke whales as well as fin whales and humpbacks, in a South Pacific whale hunt that will run until mid-April. | The 239-man mission plans to kill more than 900 minke whales as well as fin whales and humpbacks, in a South Pacific whale hunt that will run until mid-April. |
| The 8,000 metric tonne Nisshin Maru was crippled by a fire on a whaling mission in the Antarctic in March. One crew member was killed. | The 8,000 metric tonne Nisshin Maru was crippled by a fire on a whaling mission in the Antarctic in March. One crew member was killed. |
| A Greenpeace campaign ship will be following the Japanese fleet. | A Greenpeace campaign ship will be following the Japanese fleet. |
| Sensitive mammals | Sensitive mammals |
| Tokyo's plan to target the humpback - which was hunted to near extinction four decades ago - has drawn condemnation from environmentalists. | Tokyo's plan to target the humpback - which was hunted to near extinction four decades ago - has drawn condemnation from environmentalists. |
| "Humpbacks are very sensitive and live in close-knit pods. So even one death can be extremely damaging," Greenpeace spokesman Junichi Sato said. | "Humpbacks are very sensitive and live in close-knit pods. So even one death can be extremely damaging," Greenpeace spokesman Junichi Sato said. |
| Japanese fisheries officials insist both humpback and fin populations are back to sustainable levels. | Japanese fisheries officials insist both humpback and fin populations are back to sustainable levels. |
| "Humpback whales in our research area are rapidly recovering," fisheries spokesman Hideki Moronuki said. | |
| "Taking 50 humpbacks from a population of tens of thousands will have no significant impact whatsoever," he said. | "Taking 50 humpbacks from a population of tens of thousands will have no significant impact whatsoever," he said. |
| Mr Moronuki said killing whales allows marine biologists to study their internal organs. | Mr Moronuki said killing whales allows marine biologists to study their internal organs. |
| Meat from Japan's scientific catch is sold commercially but Japanese officials deny that the mission plans to make a profit. | Meat from Japan's scientific catch is sold commercially but Japanese officials deny that the mission plans to make a profit. |
| Japan argues that whaling is an ancient Japanese tradition, and has pushed unsuccessfully at the International Whaling Commission to reverse the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling. | Japan argues that whaling is an ancient Japanese tradition, and has pushed unsuccessfully at the International Whaling Commission to reverse the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling. |
| Environmentalists say Japan's research programme is a pretext for keeping the whaling industry alive. | Environmentalists say Japan's research programme is a pretext for keeping the whaling industry alive. |