Japan To Use Non-Lethal Farce

Japan's move to send whaling boats back to the Antarctic for non-lethal scientific research is being labelled "a farce" by environmental group Sea Shepherd.
The Institute of Cetecean Research (ICR) says it'll use methods such as sightings and biopsy sampling.

Last March, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled Japan's whaling was illegal. So today, to get around the ruling, the institute is sending four boats for non-lethal research - they'll be there until the end of March.
Greenpeace has welcomed Japan's decision to do non-lethal research, but environmental watchdog Sea Shepherd is more cynical.

Is this Japan's idea of 'non-lethal'???

Speaking from Bob Barker in the South Indian Ocean, SS Captain Peter Hammarstedt, says the scientific programme is merely a way to scope the whales out before killing them next season:
"We're incredibly sceptical of Japan's current idea, given that they've already declared they plan to resume their commercial whaling in 2015-16. The data they collect now will be used for future lethal programmes."

Last November, Japan announced its intention to kill 333 Minke whales in the 2015-16 season.
ICR spokesman, Glenn "Ginza" Inwood, says Japan is entirely open and honest about its research intentions. He says the Institute wants to develop its knowledge base required to undertake sustainable whaling in the Antarctic.
In March, the ICJ said the special permits granted by Japan "for the killing, taking, and treating of whales...are not for purposes of scientific research". It said the sample size of its lethal research was not driven by strictly scientific considerations. It also said that despite Japan killing about 3,600 minke whales in the past decade, its scientific output to date appeared to be limited.
ICR's Inwood says future research would be in accordance with the ICJ's decision: "Future research expeditions in the Antarctic are likely to include some lethal research sampling, where limited numbers of whales from abundant species are taken, and Japan is confident that it is consistent with last year's decision by the ICJ."
Jeez, which part of "no" do the nasty Nippons not understand??!!