The revised law for the sustainable use of whales enacted December 5 at 17:09
In response to the resumption of commercial whaling, a revised law including the promotion of the use of whales in school meals was passed at the House of Representatives' Congress on the 5th and was enacted in order to promote the sustainable use of whales.
This law will be revised as Japan withdrew from the IWC = International Whaling Commission and resumed commercial whaling for the first time in 31 years since July.
The purpose of the law has been changed from the implementation of research whaling so far to “ensure the sustainable use of whales”, so that the government can support the securing of ships and crews, and the succession of food culture to facilitate commercial whaling. It includes the promotion of the use of whales in school meals.
In addition, the government stipulates that the government should take measures to prevent whales from being illegally captured and to carry out whaling within the range of capacities calculated based on scientific grounds. While there are criticisms from the viewpoint of protection of animals and animal welfare, we want to gain an international understanding of commercial whaling.
“I want to spread whale food through lunch”
The Mayor of Sangenichi Takashi, Taiji-cho, Wakayama Prefecture, which resumed commercial whaling for the first time in 31 years in July, following the passage of the revised law including the promotion of the use of whales in school lunches “I think there will be a momentum in the activities to expand the culture of eating whales in town. The number of people who do not eat whales is increasing while commercial whaling has stopped. I want to excite. "