The governments of at least 21 antiwhaling nations have undertaken the largest single diplomatic protest ever against Japan's lethal scientific whaling program, according to statements released this week by the governments of New Zealand and Australia.
New Zealand's Conservation Minister Chris Carter said in a statement that 27 countries took part in a demarche at the Foreign Ministry last Friday, while a further protest was planned for this week at the Fisheries Agency.
"This is the largest number of governments in recent times to express jointly their deep concern that the government of Japan will continue its controversial so-called scientific whaling program," Australian Environment Minister Ian Campbell said in a separate statement, which mentioned 21 countries.
Japan this year plans to hunt up to 935 Antarctic minke whales and 10 endangered fin whales. Next year it plans to start taking humpback whales.