Japanese Pets Do Eat Whale Meat

The Age

Friday February 17, 2006

ANDREW DARBY

JAPANESE whaling authorities have finally confirmed that some meat from the Antarctic hunt becomes pet food.

Under pressure over claims that large stockpiles of whale meat are feeding Japanese dogs and cats, the Institute for Cetacean Research in Tokyo yesterday released details about sales of its "byproducts".

Included was the wholesale price of minke, a fixed 1950 yen ($A22) per kilogram, and confirmation that a "minuscule" amount ended up as pet food.

But institute director-general Hiroshi Hatanaka said fine cuts were not used. The Japanese Fisheries Agency's Hideki Moronuki told The Age: "Some parts not appropriate for human consumption might be used for other purposes . . . (such as) pet food."

Australian Environment Minister Ian Campbell said most people would be disgusted by the idea of feeding such intelligent animals to pets.

He also said that a bid by the International Whaling Commission chairman to reintroduce a global commercial kill was "doomed".

© 2006 The Age

Back to News Index | Back to Home