Japanese cabinet ministers on Tuesday called on the international society to deal toughly with an anti-whaling group which deterred a Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean by throwing bottles containing chemicals on Monday.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said "it's inappropriate to resort to violence" to hinder "legal operations" in the high seas.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi said Japan will take the incident to a meeting of the International Whaling Commission scheduled for Thursday in London.
Anti-whaling activists attack on a factory ship of the Japanese fleet on Monday caused eye irritation of two Japan Coast Guard officials and a crew member on board the ship, Japanese media said.
Japan kills about 1,000 whales annually. It has always been claiming that its whaling program is for the purpose of "scientific research" and the world whale populations could afford a limited catch.
According to the Japanese agriculture, forestry and fishery ministry, Japan's original hunting target for the current season was 1,035 whales, 50 precious humpbacks included.
The country wiped off the humpbacks from the target list in mid December under the International Whaling Commission's proposal.
Source:Xinhua
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