UK''s fisheries minister Ben Bradshaw has condemned Japan''s decision to go ahead with its whaling programme in the Southern Ocean.
The programme, known as JARPA II, will start within days as the Japanese ships have already left for the ocean off Antarctica.
Under the programme, Japan plans to increase its minke whale kill from 440 to 935 annually. It will also kill 10 fin whales this year and 10 next.
From 2007-08, Japan plans to increase the kill of fin whales to 50 and then include 50 humpback whales annually.
Mr Bradshaw said: “Japan is flying in the face of world opinion. This slaughter has little or no basis in science and I would urge Japan not to proceed.“
