Japan auctions fresh fin whale meat for first time in decades

Japan resumed commercial whaling within its exclusive economic zone after withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission in 2019

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An auction selling fresh meat of fin whales at a fish market in Shimonoseki. Photo: AP

Published: 9:22pm, 12 Dec 2024

Meat from fin whales caught for the first time in nearly 50 years off Japan’s northern coast fetched up to more than US$1,300 per kilogram (2.2lbs) at auction on Thursday, as officials try to keep the struggling industry alive.

Japan’s Fisheries Agency this year added fin whales to its list of three whale species that can be legally hunted as the country expands commercial whaling along its coast.

Japan resumed commercial whaling within its exclusive economic zone after withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission in 2019. The IWC designated the fin whale as a species for protection from overhunting in 1976.

Japan said its recent stock surveys confirmed a sufficient recovery of fin whale populations in the North Pacific. Officials said 30 of the whales – half of the quota of 60 – were caught this season. Japan set a combined catch quota of 379 for the three other whale species – minke, Bryde’s and sei whales.

Fresh meat of fin whales displayed at a fish market in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi prefecture in southern Japan. Photo: AP

The country’s only large-scale whaling fleet operator Kyodo Senpaku launched the 7.5 billion yen (US$49 million) Kangei Maru – a 9,300-tonne new ship – this year in a show of determination to stay in the industry.