Japan Receives Diplomatic Protest from 17 Nations Over Whaling

Japanese whaling in the Antarctic for scientific research has prompted a formal diplomatic protest by 17 countries.

A written protest, or demarche, calling on Japan to "cease all its lethal scientific research on whales"' was handed to the government in Tokyo by the Brazilian Ambassador.

``We urge Japan to reconsider its position and end this unjustified and unnecessary slaughter,'' U.K. Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw said. ``The fact that 17 countries supported this representation shows how important this is and the depth of feeling around the world.''

Japan opposes a ban on whaling, insisting it is part of the country's traditional culture, and has continued to hunt whales for scientific research, since the International Whaling Commission introduced a moratorium on commercial whaling two decades ago.

There wasn't any immediate comment from the Japanese embassy in London because the relevant diplomat wasn't available.

More than 6,800 Antarctic Minke Whales have already been killed in Antarctic waters, since Japan began its Whale Research Program 18 years ago. Meat from whales killed for research is later consumed at Japanese restaurants.

The 17 countries that signed the protest were Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the U.K.