JAPAN — Despite international scrutiny, the Japanese government is about to resume profitable whale hunting.<br /><br />According to the BBC, Japan has now withdrawn from the International Whaling Commission, or 'IWC'.<br /><br />The IWC's site states that it was set up in 1946 with the purpose of proper conservation of whale stocks and the management of whaling.<br /><br />Kyodo News reported that Japanese whaling fleets will set sail Monday morning, a day after Tokyo formally left the IWC, with a target of catching 227 whales for the year.<br /><br />Although Japan has not technically practiced commercial whaling for 31 years, it has been hunting whales in the Antarctic Ocean for 'scientific research' under the exception of an IWC rule.<br /><br />Since 1987, Japan has caught between 200 and 1,200 whales annually, under the ostensible purpose of observing stocks to establish sustainable quotas.<br /><br />Japan opened itself up to accusations of a cover-up from critics when whale meat from the 'research' usually went on sale.<br /><br />Hideki Moronuki of the Japanese fishing ministry told the BBC that whaling "will be conducted within Japan's territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone."<br /><br />But why is Japan restarting whaling now? <br /><br />According to the AFP, in a 2016 IWC gathering, Japan asked IWC members to allow for small hunts around coastal communities, arguing that whale meat is part of its history and culture.<br /><br />And what impact will Japan's whaling have?<br /><br />Japan plans to hunt three species of whale: minke, Bryde's and sei whales. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Minke and Bryde's are not endangered and Sei whales numbers are improving.
