DNA Evidence of Protected Species of Whale for Sale

• DNA analyses have shown that meat and products from protected whale species are widely available in markets in Japan and South Korea.
  
• Regulation and enforcement of illegal whale hunting and trade are lacking.
  
• Whaling conducted through objections to IWC regulations and decisions, and under the guise of science is providing a cover for illegal hunting and trade. 

"Whale For Sale"

Whaling conducted through IWC loopholes is sheltering a widespread trade in meat and products from protected whale species in Japan and South Korea.

Some of the whale products are from legal sources, including: "scientific" whaling of Antarctic minke whales in the Southern Ocean as well as minke, Bryde’s and sperm whales in the North Pacific; hunting for small cetaceans; whales caught incidentally in set nets; and stockpiles from past whaling operations.

There are concerns that legally sold meat and products may also include meat and products from cetaceans that have been traded or hunted illegally. Confirming the existence of such illicit trade and hunting has proven difficult. Scientific techniques now enable some illegal cases to be identified.