… it is activities like this that warrant the presence of the Sea Shepherd II. Too bad is has been sold off.

“Humpback whales in our research area are rapidly recovering,” said fisheries spokesman Hideki Moronuki.

“Taking 50 humpbacks from a population of tens of thousands will have no significant impact whatsoever.”

Mr Moronuki said killing whales allowed marine biologists to study their internal organs.

Meat from Japan’s scientific catch is sold commercially but Japanese officials deny that the mission plans to make a profit.

Why do they need to take out so many whales for research? I don’t see people cutting up 50 elephants or pandas a year for research.

Taking 50 out of a population of tens of thousands will have no significant impact? Well, why not take out 50 Japanese, cut them up and see if there is a significant impact in the Japanese society?

Study their internal organs? Ur… what? Read the entrails?! I mean, what good can come out of studying a dead animal?

Tokyo argues that whaling is an ancient Japanese tradition, and has pushed unsuccessfully at the International Whaling Commission to reverse the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling.

Well, if whaling is an ancient Japanese tradition, then I do suggest they bring nostalgia all the way and hunt the whales using ancient traditional methods like handheld harpoons and wooden sail boats!