Greenpeace International: Stolen Whale Meat Scandal

Following this morning's revelation by Greenpeace of large-scale corruption within the Japanese government-sponsored Southern Ocean whaling programme, the environmental group delivered a complaint to the Tokyo district Public Prosecutor's Office, who gave assurance that the details of the case will be reviewed, pending a decision to mount a criminal investigation.

Following conflicting responses from the government's Fisheries Agency (FAJ), the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) and Kyodo Senpaku, Greenpeace this evening requested a meeting with Japanese government Cabinet Secretary, Nobutaka Machimura.

News reports of reactions from the three whaling organisations involved are full of contradictions, with Kyodo Senpaku admitting that "souvenirs are given to distribute among neighbours" in one interview, after denying it in an earlier one. The ICR admitted the crew get small gifts, but earlier the FAJ denied that the practice occurs, and asked the ICR to investigate the allegations – essentially asking the ICR to investigate its own programme.

According to the testimony of one of the informers, there is a big difference between "souvenir" meat and the stolen whale meat. The souvenir boxes contain frozen meat and are delivered by a different courier service called Yamato Courier service. The stolen whale meat is salted and shipped by a completely separate company.

"The government and fleet operators have today admitted that they don not use all the meat from the expedition to offset taxpayer subsidies," said Junichi Sato, Greenpeace Japan Whale Campaign Coordinator. "But they cannot claim tonnes of stolen meat are nothing more than a few small gifts, in order to avoid an investigation."

Greenpeace has requested the meeting with Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura in order to discuss the dossier of gathered evidence, and the need for a public investigation.

"This is taxpayer's money that is being squandered, and government-appointed bodies failing to take responsibility for it," commented Junichi Sato, head of Greenpeace Japan's Ocean campaign. "The Cabinet Office oversees all these departments and must take on responsibility for ensuring there is a full public enquiry."

Contact:
Kyoko Murakami: Greenpeace Japan Media, in Tokyo: + 81 80 5088 3048
Junichi Sato: Greenpeace Japan Whales Campaign Coordinator, in Tokyo: + 81 80 5088 2990
Dave Walsh, Greenpeace International Media, in Tokyo: +81 80 5416 6508

Sara Holden, Greenpeace International Whale Campaign Coordinator, in Tokyo: + 81 80 5088 2893