Japan logs 1st catch of year as whaling season begins off Hokkaido

Japan landed the year's first minke whale catch on Wednesday as the commercial whaling season began off Hokkaido, with two females landed at Nemuro port, according to an industry body.The two whales were caught off Hokkaido, while another was taken off Aomori Prefecture in northeastern Japan, where the season began in March, the Japan Small-Type Whaling Association said.The two measured about 8.2 meters and 7.7 meters in length. The company that caught them said the whales will be processed in Kushiro, Hokkaido, and shipped nationwide."We were able to catch relatively large whales, marking …READ FULL ARTICLE