Japan readies for first commercial whaling hunt in decades

Japanese whaling ships on Sunday prepared for their first commercial hunt in more than 30 years, Reuters reported. 

Japan exited the International Whaling Commission last year, announcing it would resume, on July 1, commercial whaling banned by the organization.

{mosads}That move drew backlash from some who cited concerns for damage to whale populations, while others maintain that eating whale is an important part of Japanese culture and say most species are not endangered.

The global whaling moratorium was imposed in 1986. Japan then began what it called “scientific research whaling” in the North Pacific and Antarctic, according to Reuters, but critics called the practice a veiled form of commercial whaling.

Monday’s hunt will stay within Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been a strong proponent of restarting whale hunting, Reuters noted.

The size of the industry is not immediately clear, as only about 300 people around Japan are directly connected to whaling.

The International Whaling Commission was unable to provide comment on the planned hunt because not all its members are in agreement over the practice.

–This report was updated on July 1 at 7:35 a.m.