Japan whaling fleet leave port

The first ship in the Japan whaling fleet has left for Antarctica. Japan goes on two whale hunts per year. The officials say that the whale hunt was for scientific study. Shigeki Tanaka said "We are doing a legal survey based on International Whaling Commission rules.", he is from the Japanese Fisheries Agencies. The anti whale-hunters thought that the Japanese were more interested in selling the meat for food, killing whales for meat was banned in 1986.
Anti whale killers and whale hunters often bump into each other at sea, and is more likely at this time of the year. The anti whale hunters said that they will do their best to disrupt the hunt.
source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7730000/newsid_7734200/7734253.stm