FISHERIES AGENCYMINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES, GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN2-1, 1-Chome, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100, Japan TEL:03-3502-8111 EXT:

MEDIA RELEASE
16 March 2002

STRONG SUPPORT FOR WHALINGThe Prime Minister’s office and the Fisheries Agency of the Government of Japan today
released the results of a public opinion survey showing strong support for whaling.
Mr. Masayuki Komatsu, Councillor at the Fisheries Agency said, “Whaling and whale meat
are an integral part of the culture of a number of locations in Japan. It is therefore nosurprise that the strong public support for whaling shown in past surveys has beenreconfirmed.”
The survey conducted in December 2001 by the Cabinet Office of the Government ofJapan showed more than 75% support for whaling managed in a rational and sustainable
way.
When asked whether scientific research was required to study the impact of whales on
fisheries 81.3% said that such research was necessary or may be necessary while only
6.9% said that such research was not necessary or might not be necessary.
More than 87% of respondents said that they had eaten whale meat.
Mr. Komatsu said, “These results show a continuing high level of public support for theGovernment’s position on whaling and strengthens our resolve to work within theInternational Whaling Commission for the resumption of commercial whaling and tocontinue with our research programs to study the impact of whales on fisheries.” “This is
why we are looking forward to positive results from this year’s meeting of the IWC to beheld in Shimonoseki in May”, he added.

(more to come)1Mr. Komatsu also explained that last year, the IWC unanimously adopted a resolution
making the study of the interaction between whales and fisheries a priority. Manyinternational fisheries organizations including the FAO have made similar decisions. “Thisis exactly what our whale research programs are doing. We are studying what whales eat,
where and how much.” “Marine mammal interactions with fisheries have become a major
issue worldwide. It is an important issue in the context of world food security since theestimates are that cetaceans consume 3 to 5 times the amount of marine resources
harvested for human consumption”, he added.
Mr. Komatsu also said, “The results of this survey clearly demonstrate the sham that
Greenpeace and the International Fund for Animal Welfare have been using for more thana year claiming that the Japanese public does not support whaling or consume whalemeat.” “Their survey failed to meet minimum survey standards or any other test ofcredibility. It should simply be dismissed as nothing more than a continuation of theirdeliberate attempt to misinform the public”, he added.
Mr. Komatsu said the public should start to question Greenpeace’s motives for its antiwhaling campaigns. “Greenpeace uses the whaling issue to gain membership donations
and most of the money is spent on high profile photogenic protests that are simply
designed to raise more money.” “If they were truly concerned about whales Greenpeace
would be spending money on research”, he said.

For more information contact:
Masayuki Komatsu, Counsellor, Resources Management Department, Fisheries
Agency, Government of Japan (Tel: +81-3-3591-1086)
orJoji Morishita, Deputy Director General, Far Seas Fisheries Division, Fisheries
Agency, Government of Japan (Tel: +81-3-3502-2443).
See also
http://www.jfa.maff.go.jp/whale/index.htm

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