Japan to announce Wed. pullout from IWC to resume commercial whaling

Japan will announce Wednesday its withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission next year in a bid to resume commercial whaling, government sources said Tuesday.The government has decided to quit the international organization as its attempts over the last 30 years to resume commercial whaling of relatively abundant species such as minke whales have been stymied by anti-whaling countries.To leave the IWC in 2019, Japan needs to notify the commission by Jan. 1. The government is considering allowing commercial whaling in Japan's nearby seas and within its exclusive economic zone, othe…READ FULL ARTICLE