We welcome the news that Japan has decided to postpone killing endangered humpback whales in a designated whale sanctuary. Apparently, Japan has heeded the international plea to stop the slaughter of these sirens of the sea. However, we remain deeply alarmed over Japan's intention to kill nearly 1,000 minke whales and the outrageous number of 50 endangered fin whales this year. We do not consider this a concession, and Japan must not be congratulated for deciding not to kill a species they never should have set their sights on. 

We join members of the U.S. Congress, the government of Australia, and other conservation-minded governments and entities, who mobilized in unprecedented numbers to call on Japan to halt this hunt and to shut down its whaling fleet completely. The Humane Society of the United States/Humane Society International hopes this effort will be sustained until Japan kills its last whale. Whaling is inherently cruel and completely unnecessary. These animals already face a multitude of environmental threats; the least we can do is to stop the slaughter of these animals for sushi.  

Timeline:

• 2007--Japan announced that it would enact its plans to increase the number of fin whales it kills each year in the Antarctic to 50 and add 50 humpbacks, in addition to the 935 minkes. Later in 2007, Japan announced that it would temporarily postpone targeting humpbacks until the June 2008 IWC meeting.
• 2005--Japan's annual Antarctic hunt was expanded to 935 minke whales, 10 endangered fin whales, and starting in 2007, an increase in the number of fin whales to 50 and the addition of 50 endangered humpback whales.
• 2002--Japan added to its annual Pacific hunt 50 endangered sei whales and increased the number of minkes to 150, along with the 50 Bryde's and 10 sperm whales. 
• 2000--Japan increased its annual Pacific hunt to 100 minkes, 50 Bryde's and 10 endangered sperm whales. 
• 1994-- The IWC declared the Southern Ocean a sanctuary for whales. Meanwhile, Japan expanded its annual hunt to 100 minke whales in the North Pacific and increased its minke hunt in the Antarctic to 440. 
• 1988--Japan began hunting minke whales in the Southern Ocean (Antarctic) – self-allotting a quota of approximately 300 minke whales per year. 
• 1986--The commercial whaling moratorium was implemented by the IWC.

-30-

Humane Society International is the international arm of The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization - backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at humanesociety.org.