Why is Japan killing whales? | Inside Story

Japan has resumed commercial whaling in its waters despite global outrage.

Whales were hunted to the brink of extinction until 1986, when a group of countries agreed to temporarily stop whaling for profit.
It turned into a semi-international ban.
But Conservationists are now worried the species might be facing a similar threat.
Many countries continue to hunt whales for 'scientific' purposes.
And Japan, which is one of the leading commercial whalers - has now resumed the practice in its waters.

But is it commercially sustainable?
And why is whaling so important for Japan?

Presenter: Peter Dobbie

Guests:

Ken Collins - Senior Research Fellow in Ocean and Earth Science in the faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences at the University of Southampton.

Michael Penn - President of Japan's Shingetsu News Agency.

Mark Simmonds - Senior Marine Expert, at Humane Society International.

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