The Fisheries Ministry defended its "research" whaling in an annual report released Tuesday, countering criticism from the United States and other antiwhaling countries.
The fiscal 2000 report on fisheries, which was endorsed at a Cabinet meeting, claims research hunting last year in the Northwest Pacific helped confirm that minke, Bryde's and sperm whales are consuming large amounts of Alaskan pollack and squid, indicating ample stocks of the three species.
Japan wants to resume commercial whaling under the rationale that whale stocks have recovered to the extent they are impacting on fish resources, which they reckon is a major factor behind diminishing supplies.