July 5th, 2012
12:18 AM ET

South Korea says it may resume whaling, angering environment groups

South Korea is considering hunting whales in the waters off its shores for scientific purposes, drawing condemnation from environmental groups.

Citing calls from fishermen for a resumption of limited whaling, the head of the South Korean delegation to the International Whaling Commission, Kang Joon-suk, said Wednesday that Seoul was working on a proposal to hunt minke whales migrating off the Korean Peninsula.

Korean fishermen complain that the whales are disrupting their fishing activities and eating fish stocks, Kang said at the commission's annual meeting in Panama.

Nonlethal measures are not enough to assess the whales' numbers and feeding habits, he said.

But environmental organizations are skeptical about the South Korean explanation.

"We believe this move is a thinly veiled attempt by Korea to conduct commercial whaling under the guise of scientific research, similar to hunts conducted by Japan in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary," said Wendy Elliott, head of WWF's delegation to the whaling commission.

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Filed under: Earth • Environment • South Korea • Whales • wildlife
soundoff (5 Responses)
  1. state of manufacturing

    Let's face it. Having a quarter of the worlds population un or underemployed adds the necessary deflationary element needed to offset all the money printing.

    July 5, 2012 at 12:37 am | Report abuse |
  2. carbide scribe

    And why is greenspun muttering about unfixed holes in the boat. He pulled all the scuttle plugs years ago.
    Spin and rewrite all you want, you can't change history bud.

    July 5, 2012 at 12:43 am | Report abuse |
  3. carbide scribe

    As far as fish go. 90% of the oceans big fish are gone. Anyone seen any whale oil lately. It makes excellent lubricant.

    July 5, 2012 at 12:49 am | Report abuse |
  4. Carbide Dick (R-Ohio) "Right Wing Insanity"

    You assert 90%, cause you were out there counting and tagging them...right?

    July 5, 2012 at 2:02 am | Report abuse |
  5. Obama Mama

    Finning will resume, it is part of the economy. Just now they decide to get "earthy with it", doubt it.

    July 6, 2012 at 9:32 am | Report abuse |
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