- Protest Statement - Please do not add fin whales to the commercial whaling program

Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister of State
Mr. Tetsushi Sakamoto, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
To Mr. Takeshi Mori, Director-General of the Fisheries Agency

　On May 9, the Government of Japan announced that it plans to modify the Fishery Resource Management Guidelines and add fin whales to the commercial whaling program.
Fin whales were taken in very large numbers during the heyday of commercial whaling in the past and were in danger of extinction. Although their numbers are on the way to recovery due to the suspension of whaling, they are still listed as a "vulnerable species" on the IUCN Red List and need to be protected. The news reports state that "the number is increasing" as the reason for adding them to the take list, but there is no mention in any of the reports about the basis for the increase, and no scientific basis can be found anywhere in the government's policy. Nor is there an internationally recognized population estimate for fin whales. Nevertheless, in making this revision, we are asking for public comments within a short period of time, from May 7 to June 5. Those who want to profit from the hunt may be in favor of expanding the quota even without a clear rationale, but what opinion can the general public offer without a clear scientific basis?
Since the resumption of commercial whaling in 2019, whaling companies have been running whaling in the economic exclusion zone. However, inventories have built up despite the fact that their supply of whale meat is lower than during the research whaling era. In fact, the industry has inventory more than their annual catch , and there is no evidence that the need for whale meat is increasing. In fact, the industry has managed to cover its needs with government 5.1billion yen of subsidies. While it may be desirable from the whaling industry's point of view to have a wider variety of meat to sell, it is unlikely that this will enable the industry to break away from its reliance on subsidies in the future.
Taking a rare species is internationally problematic, increases concerns about Japan, and does not benefit our citizens in any way.

We oppose the commercial whaling of fin whales.

Read more: - Protest Statement - Please do not add fin whales to the commercial whaling program