February 13, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in Japan back the annual practice of whale hunting for research purposes, according to a poll by Asahi. 65 per cent of respondents are in favour of the expeditions in the Southern Ocean, while 21 per cent oppose them.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in Japan back the annual practice of whale hunting for research purposes, according to a poll by Asahi. 65 per cent of respondents are in favour of the expeditions in the Southern Ocean, while 21 per cent oppose them.

In 1986, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) agreed to a moratorium on the commercial hunting of whales. However, Japan is allowed to conduct research on the cetaceans—which entails hunting them. Only this year, the missions on the Antarctic Ocean are expected to see the hunting of up to 1,000 whales.

The European Union (EU) has voiced opposition to the Japanese whale hunt. On Feb. 11, EU fisheries commissioner Joe Borg said scientific research "should not be used as a cover for continued whaling."

Australia has also become a fierce opponent of whale hunting by the Japanese. The government of Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd recently sent a monitoring crew to the Southern Ocean to take pictures and record the hunting practices. On Feb. 11, Rudd said his administration will use the evidence to challenge whale hunting in an international court, adding, "We think it’s the right course of action to collect that evidence. (...) Calling commercial whaling scientific whaling is not right, it’s not accurate."

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose Japan’s research whaling’ expedition in the Southern Ocean in Antarctica?

Support	65%
Oppose	21%

Source: Asahi
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,082 Japanese adults, conducted on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3, 2008. No margin of error was provided.