Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO2848
2006-05-23 23:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JARPN II WHALING FLEET DEPARTS FOR WESTERN NORTH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0013 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #2848/01 1432300 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 232300Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2411 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC INFO RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0415 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1494 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0884 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1640 RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK 0129 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 1070 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 0583 RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 3643
UNCLAS TOKYO 002848
SIPDIS
STATE FOR D, G and OES/OA - MHAYES AND EAP/J - KMIDHA
USDOC FOR NOAA/NMFS - US IWC COMMISSIONER HOGARTH AND
McCARTHY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA IWC JA ETRD
SUBJECT: JARPN II WHALING FLEET DEPARTS FOR WESTERN NORTH
PACIFIC
REF: A) 05 TOKYO 2193; B) 05 TOKYO 2932;
C) 05 TOKYO 6131; D) 06 TOKYO 2073
E) 06 TOKYO 2229
-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS TOKYO 002848
SIPDIS
STATE FOR D, G and OES/OA - MHAYES AND EAP/J - KMIDHA
USDOC FOR NOAA/NMFS - US IWC COMMISSIONER HOGARTH AND
McCARTHY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA IWC JA ETRD
SUBJECT: JARPN II WHALING FLEET DEPARTS FOR WESTERN NORTH
PACIFIC
REF: A) 05 TOKYO 2193; B) 05 TOKYO 2932;
C) 05 TOKYO 6131; D) 06 TOKYO 2073
E) 06 TOKYO 2229
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. Japan's whaling fleet set off the morning of May 23
from three ports to conduct JARPN II (Second Phase of
Japan's Whale Research Program under Special Permit in
the Western North Pacific),Japan' annual lethal research
whaling program in the Western North Pacific, which
started in 2000. JARPN II will take a total of 220 minke
(100 offshore and 120 coastal),100 Sei, 50 Bryde's, and
10 Sperm whales and return to Japan in mid-September.
The fleet, comprised of the 8,030-ton mother ship,
Nisshin Maru, and three catcher and sighting vessels,
will collect data such as stomach contents and
accumulated chemical pollutants of the culled whales
before selling the meat in Japanese markets. In part due
to overall declining interest in whaling issues in Japan,
media outlets largely ignored the news. END SUMMARY
Disinterested Press and Quiet NGOs
--------------
2. Although the FAJ and the Institute of Cetacean
Research published press releases on May 22 (para 3),the
Japanese press overall did not report the news, except
for a local newspaper in Akita Prefecture in northern
Japan, which picked up a wire article on the departure of
JARPN II from Kyodo News. Tetsuji Ida, staff writer at
Kyodo News, said that nation-wide interest in whaling
issues in general has been declining as most people,
except those living in traditional whaling port areas, do
not care to eat whale meat. Unless there are dramatic
changes in catch and species, such as under JARPA II
(refs),Japanese national media will not carry articles
on whaling, says Ida. Major NGOs also no longer
demonstrate. According to Sasaki Junichi, Campaign
Manager of Greenpeace Japan, Greenpeace International has
not issued an official protest on JARPN II, though it
remains opposed to whaling. A small Tokyo-based NGO, the
Dolphin and Whale Action Network, however, published a
critical opinion piece, noting that it was surprised to
hear the news because only one month had passed since the
return of JARPA II (Antarctic) and questions the
scientific credibility of Japan's research whaling
program.
3. The following is post's unofficial translation of
FAJ's Press Release, dated May 22, 2006:
Begin Press Release:
Subject: The departure of the Second Phase of Japan's
Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the
Western North Pacific
1. Research Fleet and Departure
--------------
(1) Departure Date and Place:
May 23, 2006, departing from Onomichi City, Hiroshima
Prefecture
Mother ship: Nisshin Maru (8,030 tons, 126 crew
members including Captain Tomoyuki Ogawa)
May 23, 2006, departing from Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi
Prefecture
Catcher and sighting vessel: Yushin Maru No.2 (747
tons, 20 crew members including Captain Kiyoshi
Matsuzaka)
Catcher and sighting vessel: Kyo Maru No.2 (747 tons,
20 crew members including Captain Toshiyuki Miura)
May 23, 2006, departing from Shiogama City, Miyagi
Prefecture
Catcher and sighting vessel: Yushin Maru (720 tons, 21
crew members including Captain Kiyoji Hirose)
May 15, 2006, having already departed from Shiogama City,
Miyagi Prefecture
Dedicated sighting vessel: Kyoshin Maru No.2 (373
tons, 22 crew members including Captain Koji Takeshita)
(2) Duration
May 23 to mid-September, 2006
2. Objective
--------------
(1) Elucidate cetaceans' food intake ecology and their
role in ecosystem
(2) Conduct research on how the ocean environment
(pollutants, ocean conditions, etc.) affects cetaceans
and marine ecosystem
(3) Elucidate cetaceans' stock structure
3. The Catch Number
--------------
100 minke (plus 120 in coastal research whaling),50
Brydes, 100 Sei, and 10 Sperm
4. Organization Conducting the Expedition
--------------
The Institute of Cetacean Research
(Note) Estimated Cetacean Stock in the Western North
Pacific
Minke About 25,000
Brydes About 25,000
Sei About 69,000
Sperm About 102,000
For further information contact: Mr. Moronuki, Far
Seas Fisheries Division, Fisheries Agency, Tel: 03-3502-
8111 ex. 7242; Direct 03-3502-2443
Visit also URL that carries this press release:
http://www.jfa.maff.go.jp/release/index.html
End of Press Release
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR D, G and OES/OA - MHAYES AND EAP/J - KMIDHA
USDOC FOR NOAA/NMFS - US IWC COMMISSIONER HOGARTH AND
McCARTHY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA IWC JA ETRD
SUBJECT: JARPN II WHALING FLEET DEPARTS FOR WESTERN NORTH
PACIFIC
REF: A) 05 TOKYO 2193; B) 05 TOKYO 2932;
C) 05 TOKYO 6131; D) 06 TOKYO 2073
E) 06 TOKYO 2229
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. Japan's whaling fleet set off the morning of May 23
from three ports to conduct JARPN II (Second Phase of
Japan's Whale Research Program under Special Permit in
the Western North Pacific),Japan' annual lethal research
whaling program in the Western North Pacific, which
started in 2000. JARPN II will take a total of 220 minke
(100 offshore and 120 coastal),100 Sei, 50 Bryde's, and
10 Sperm whales and return to Japan in mid-September.
The fleet, comprised of the 8,030-ton mother ship,
Nisshin Maru, and three catcher and sighting vessels,
will collect data such as stomach contents and
accumulated chemical pollutants of the culled whales
before selling the meat in Japanese markets. In part due
to overall declining interest in whaling issues in Japan,
media outlets largely ignored the news. END SUMMARY
Disinterested Press and Quiet NGOs
--------------
2. Although the FAJ and the Institute of Cetacean
Research published press releases on May 22 (para 3),the
Japanese press overall did not report the news, except
for a local newspaper in Akita Prefecture in northern
Japan, which picked up a wire article on the departure of
JARPN II from Kyodo News. Tetsuji Ida, staff writer at
Kyodo News, said that nation-wide interest in whaling
issues in general has been declining as most people,
except those living in traditional whaling port areas, do
not care to eat whale meat. Unless there are dramatic
changes in catch and species, such as under JARPA II
(refs),Japanese national media will not carry articles
on whaling, says Ida. Major NGOs also no longer
demonstrate. According to Sasaki Junichi, Campaign
Manager of Greenpeace Japan, Greenpeace International has
not issued an official protest on JARPN II, though it
remains opposed to whaling. A small Tokyo-based NGO, the
Dolphin and Whale Action Network, however, published a
critical opinion piece, noting that it was surprised to
hear the news because only one month had passed since the
return of JARPA II (Antarctic) and questions the
scientific credibility of Japan's research whaling
program.
3. The following is post's unofficial translation of
FAJ's Press Release, dated May 22, 2006:
Begin Press Release:
Subject: The departure of the Second Phase of Japan's
Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the
Western North Pacific
1. Research Fleet and Departure
--------------
(1) Departure Date and Place:
May 23, 2006, departing from Onomichi City, Hiroshima
Prefecture
Mother ship: Nisshin Maru (8,030 tons, 126 crew
members including Captain Tomoyuki Ogawa)
May 23, 2006, departing from Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi
Prefecture
Catcher and sighting vessel: Yushin Maru No.2 (747
tons, 20 crew members including Captain Kiyoshi
Matsuzaka)
Catcher and sighting vessel: Kyo Maru No.2 (747 tons,
20 crew members including Captain Toshiyuki Miura)
May 23, 2006, departing from Shiogama City, Miyagi
Prefecture
Catcher and sighting vessel: Yushin Maru (720 tons, 21
crew members including Captain Kiyoji Hirose)
May 15, 2006, having already departed from Shiogama City,
Miyagi Prefecture
Dedicated sighting vessel: Kyoshin Maru No.2 (373
tons, 22 crew members including Captain Koji Takeshita)
(2) Duration
May 23 to mid-September, 2006
2. Objective
--------------
(1) Elucidate cetaceans' food intake ecology and their
role in ecosystem
(2) Conduct research on how the ocean environment
(pollutants, ocean conditions, etc.) affects cetaceans
and marine ecosystem
(3) Elucidate cetaceans' stock structure
3. The Catch Number
--------------
100 minke (plus 120 in coastal research whaling),50
Brydes, 100 Sei, and 10 Sperm
4. Organization Conducting the Expedition
--------------
The Institute of Cetacean Research
(Note) Estimated Cetacean Stock in the Western North
Pacific
Minke About 25,000
Brydes About 25,000
Sei About 69,000
Sperm About 102,000
For further information contact: Mr. Moronuki, Far
Seas Fisheries Division, Fisheries Agency, Tel: 03-3502-
8111 ex. 7242; Direct 03-3502-2443
Visit also URL that carries this press release:
http://www.jfa.maff.go.jp/release/index.html
End of Press Release
SCHIEFFER