日本在中斷了30多年后恢復(fù)了商業(yè)捕鯨。1986年,國(guó)際捕鯨委員會(huì)(IWC)暫停了商業(yè)捕鯨。然而,日本在12月退出了國(guó)際捕鯨委員會(huì)。日本政府已承諾所有捕鯨船將停留在距海岸320公里以內(nèi)。日本漁業(yè)局制定了每六個(gè)月捕殺227頭鯨魚(yú)的配額。在恢復(fù)捕鯨的最初幾天,捕鯨者捕獲了兩條小須鯨,它們被帶到北部的庫(kù)什羅港。鯨魚(yú)肉在東京拍賣,以創(chuàng)紀(jì)錄的價(jià)格出售。熱心的餐館老板以每公斤140美元的價(jià)格搶購(gòu)這些肉。
Japan has engaged in the practice of whaling for centuries. Whale restaurant chef Mitsuo Tani summed up why he thought the return of commercial whaling was important. He said: "A country that does not preserve its food culture has no future." He also promoted the health benefits of whale meat. He said: "It is five times lower in calories than beef, 10 times lower in cholesterol, two times less fat than chicken and it's packed with iron. But abroad, people do not know this." However, Japan's return to whaling has brought international outcry. The Humane Society accused Japan of starting a "new and shocking era of pirate whaling". It added: "This is a sad day for whale protection globally."
日本從事捕鯨已經(jīng)有幾個(gè)世紀(jì)了。鯨魚(yú)餐廳的廚師Mitsuo Tani總結(jié)了他認(rèn)為商業(yè)捕鯨的回歸很重要的原因。他說(shuō):“一個(gè)不保存其飲食文化的國(guó)家沒(méi)有前途。”他還促進(jìn)了鯨魚(yú)肉對(duì)健康的益處。他說(shuō):“它的卡路里比牛肉低五倍,膽固醇低十倍,脂肪比雞肉少兩倍,而且里面充滿了鐵。但在國(guó)外,人們并不知道這一點(diǎn)。”然而,日本重返捕鯨業(yè)引起了國(guó)際社會(huì)的強(qiáng)烈抗議。人道社會(huì)指責(zé)日本開(kāi)始了“海盜捕鯨的新的令人震驚的時(shí)代”。它補(bǔ)充說(shuō):“這是全球保護(hù)鯨魚(yú)的可悲的一天。”