Whale meat will remain in the menu of Japanese public schools, despite the prohibition established by the International Court of Justice to hunt this mammal, local news reported today.
The digital site NHK explained that whale hunting will only be suspended for scientific purposes during next season, but they will continue to capture other types of the same species.
A ruling of the world’s highest judicial organ, issued in March, condemns and prohibits the fishing of this sea giant which in Japan is considered an exquisite delicacy.
Students at public schools in nine Japanese prefectures, including Kyoto and Tokyo, received 17 tons of meat from the endangered animal per year.
Each year, a Japanese whaling fleet set sail bound for the Southern Ocean to capture an unprecise number of the Earth’s largest mammal, which caused protests from environmental groups.
Tokyo canceled this year whale hunting in the Antarctic Ocean in obedience to the decree of the International Court of Justice, although it will maintain, with reduced number, the fishing activities in the Pacific.
Japanese authorities claimed that the capture of whales is part of scientific research; however, whale meat is actually one of the favorite and most expensive delicacies for locals. (PL)