(November 19th, 2009) - As in previous years, yesterday the Japanese fleet departed again for Antarctica, to continue its unjustified "scientific whaling" program in which it expects to capture some 1,000 whales.

As in past seasons, today the Japanese fleet, including its factory ship Nisshin Maru and 3 other smaller boats, sailed to a new season of scientific whaling.

Although since 1986 there is a moratorium on commercial whaling imposed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary in Antarctica is due to the exploitation of a loophole in the IWC treaty, which allows to hunt these marine mammals for "lethal research" purposes.

Conservationists Nations and various national and international NGOs, such as Fundación Cethus, are opposed to this, because they believe it is a cruel and unnecessary practice. In turn Japan argues that this is necessary, without much basis.

Despite the statements made by Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama on his distaste for whale meat and his intention to implement sweeping changes on its national and international policies, and even amid recent speculation about a public spending cut that would involve the cessation of funding for these activities in Antarctica in the near future, with the recent departure of the whaling fleet, there are no changes in sight.

Since 1987, more than 9,000 whales were caught by Japanese fleets in the Southern Ocean, under "Special Permits", category recognized by the IWC, but repudiated by most of the Scientific Community.

Japanese Scientific Whaling is an activity that has received strong opposition from the international conservationist community and it has motivated statements and diplomatic actions of various non-governmental organizations and governments, also including those of Latin America which are part of the IWC and form the Buenos Aires Group. This, together with different statements also of Latin American governments repudiating the lethal use of cetaceans and promoting the non-lethal use, show a world nonconformity to these acts.