Japan Accused of Backing Whale Killing with Tsunami Funds

Japan's whaling fleet is preparing for an ambitious goal. Participants plan to kill 900 minke whales and 50 fin whales this year, relying on taxpayers' money. This rumor has raised the anger of conservation groups, whose members say the unwanted, unnecessary operation is wasting an approximately 2.28 billion yen (£19m/$30m/€22m) coming from the government.

Apparently, this amount is spend on the traditional whale hunt instead of providing much-needed help to the communities critically affected by the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan earlier this year, in March, the Guardian reports.

Although the numbers are quite considerable, they only represent an extra boost for whale killings added to the existing $6m (€4.46m) annually provided by the Japanese government.

While benefiting from a more than appropriate financial support, whalers packed their bags and boarded on three ships that left the Shimonoseki port from the south-western part of the country.

Greenpeace officials have manifested their disapproval, stating that backing the controversial whale program aiming to kill almost 1,000 creatures with funds meant to help the poor and needy overcome the current challenges represents a “disgraceful” operation.

On the other hand, the fisheries agency stated this contribution is welcome, mostly due to the fact that one of the most vulnerable locations as a result of natural phenomena is in fact a whaling port.

So far, Yoshihiko Noda, the prime minister has received more than a few letters in which eco-groups manifested their contempt regarding the disputed funding option.

Most of the claims are built around the fact that the government is wasting tax money on useless operations that provide no benefits for ecosystems or the suffering population.

"The reality, though, is that the whaling industry is dying and this is its last gasp. The economics show that whaling is unprofitable and a bad policy for the Japanese people as well as for whales," notes Robbie Marsland from the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Even under these circumstances, the tradition is preserved and the fate of poor people still recovering from the devastating tsunami appears to rank second in the list of governmental priorities.