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Greenpeace International: Icelandic Whale Meat Destined for a House in Tokyo - Greenpeace demands Japan refuse suspicious import
Tonnes of endangered fin whale meat from Iceland and minke whale meat from Norway have been exported to Japan has been left sitting in deep freezers in customs, despite claims by the Icelandic exporter that there is a market for the meat.
The address provided on the export license obtained by Greenpeace is a private house, using a trading company that has been dormant for four years and only reactivated two weeks ago. (1)
The export has been condemned internationally and currently has no import license. Greenpeace is calling on the government of Japan to refuse to grant the required permits.
"At this critical stage of negotiations on the future of the International Whaling Commission, which begin in two weeks time in Santiago, Japan has the chance to show they are serious about looking to the future by refusing to allow the import," said Junichi Sato, Greenpeace Japan Whales project leader. "If they allow the meat to come in, by this suspicious route, then it sends a clear signal to the world's governments that it is whaling business as usual." Sato added.
The Asian Trading Co. Ltd., Tokyo, cited on the export license was only reactivated as a company as a "favour for a friend in Iceland"(2). The Icelandic exporter, Kristjan Loftsson is the only whaler left with capacity for large scale industrial whaling and the processing of large whales, such as fin whales.
Two weeks ago, other smaller boats began hunting minke whales off the Icelandic coast again, despite opposition from half of the Icelandic government, and domestic and international condemnation.
The export attempt comes as the whaling industry in Japan is under investigation by the Tokyo district Public Prosecutor into allegations of embezzlement, following revelations by Greenpeace that whale meat from the Southern Ocean is being taken by crew, with the knowledge of government and whaling fleet company officials, for sale on the black market(3).
Notes:
1. According to the company register of the Asian Trading Co. Ltd., the company's director and senior management staff resigned in June 2004, leaving the company inactive. The director re-registered the company on May 20th this year.
2. From conversation between Asian Trading Co. Ltd spokesperson and Greenpeace Japan.
3. Greenpeace investigation: Japan's stolen whale meat scandal
http://www.greenpeace.org/whale-meat-scandal
Contact:
Junichi Sato: Greenpeace Japan Whales Campaign Coordinator, in Tokyo + 81 80 5088 2990
Keiko Shirokawa: Greenpeace Japan Communications, in Tokyo +81 90 3470 7884
Frode Pleym: Greenpeace Nordic Whales Campaigner, in Stockholm +46 703 535 766
Dave Walsh: Greenpeace International Communications, in Dublin +353 87 2207023
The address provided on the export license obtained by Greenpeace is a private house, using a trading company that has been dormant for four years and only reactivated two weeks ago. (1)
The export has been condemned internationally and currently has no import license. Greenpeace is calling on the government of Japan to refuse to grant the required permits.
"At this critical stage of negotiations on the future of the International Whaling Commission, which begin in two weeks time in Santiago, Japan has the chance to show they are serious about looking to the future by refusing to allow the import," said Junichi Sato, Greenpeace Japan Whales project leader. "If they allow the meat to come in, by this suspicious route, then it sends a clear signal to the world's governments that it is whaling business as usual." Sato added.
The Asian Trading Co. Ltd., Tokyo, cited on the export license was only reactivated as a company as a "favour for a friend in Iceland"(2). The Icelandic exporter, Kristjan Loftsson is the only whaler left with capacity for large scale industrial whaling and the processing of large whales, such as fin whales.
Two weeks ago, other smaller boats began hunting minke whales off the Icelandic coast again, despite opposition from half of the Icelandic government, and domestic and international condemnation.
The export attempt comes as the whaling industry in Japan is under investigation by the Tokyo district Public Prosecutor into allegations of embezzlement, following revelations by Greenpeace that whale meat from the Southern Ocean is being taken by crew, with the knowledge of government and whaling fleet company officials, for sale on the black market(3).
Notes:
1. According to the company register of the Asian Trading Co. Ltd., the company's director and senior management staff resigned in June 2004, leaving the company inactive. The director re-registered the company on May 20th this year.
2. From conversation between Asian Trading Co. Ltd spokesperson and Greenpeace Japan.
3. Greenpeace investigation: Japan's stolen whale meat scandal
http://www.greenpeace.org/whale-meat-scandal
Contact:
Junichi Sato: Greenpeace Japan Whales Campaign Coordinator, in Tokyo + 81 80 5088 2990
Keiko Shirokawa: Greenpeace Japan Communications, in Tokyo +81 90 3470 7884
Frode Pleym: Greenpeace Nordic Whales Campaigner, in Stockholm +46 703 535 766
Dave Walsh: Greenpeace International Communications, in Dublin +353 87 2207023
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