MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Japan imports whale meat from Iceland; first time in 17 years

Japan has bought whale meat from Iceland, the first time in 17 years it has imported the banned meat, according to a Saturday report from Kyodo News agency.

The shipment passed through Japanese customs and was already on the market, said Kyodo quoting unidentified trade ministry officials. Officials refused to give further details, including how much and what kind of whale meat was involved, Kyodo said. Japan last imported whale meat in 1991. Commercial whaling was banned in 1986 under the International Whaling Commission. The import apparently was authorized last September. Pro-whaling countries, including Japan, Iceland and Norway, say the commercial hunt should be allowed to resume for non-endangered species such as minke whales. Japan claims the import of the meat does not violate international trade laws. Japan has faced mounting criticism from United States, Australia, New Zealand and other countries for whale hunting which is described as "cruel and unnecessary". Iceland resumed commercial whaling in 2006, ending a 20-year hiatus after withdrawing from the IWC. This year, Iceland allowed the country's whalers to catch up to 40 minkes. According to Kyodo the purchase in Iceland has the purpose of supporting the whaling industry both at home and overseas. Japan, which conducts research hunts under the IWC, sent a whaling fleet earlier this month to the Antarctic for an annual hunt. Japan kills about 1,200 whales a year in two expeditions. In recent years Japanese whalers have faced violent protests from the environmental group Sea Shepherd in the Antarctic waters. The Japanese have hunted whales for centuries and the meat was once widely popular. Today, however, its consumption is largely limited to small coastal communities.