The announcement, made earlier this week, has already caused controversy, as many countries believe that behind the ‘research purposes’ there are commercial interests, as it happens with Japan.
The South Korean government has not given any details on where the hunting would take place or what they would do with the whale’s meat, but it is believed that they could hunt minke whales in the Sea of Japan, known for them as the East Sea.
South Korea is subjected to a 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling imposed by the International Whaling Commission. Only Norway and Iceland ignore the moratorium, while Japan continues hunting using the scientific research provision, which allows selling the discarded meat to shops and restaurants.
Apparently, whale’s meat is already being consumed in South Korea through accidental killing of whales. According to the Herald Sun, this meat is especially popular in the Korean town of Ulsan.
Source: The Herald Sun
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Unveiling the Whale
Arne Kalland
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