WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Two political parties have urged the government of New Zealand to get involved in trying to stop Japanese whaling in the Antarctic.
The Japanese fleet is in Antarctic waters with a quota this year of 950 whales. Most are minkes, a smaller species that is not under threat, but the Japanese also plan to kill some humpbacked and fin whales.
The Green Party wants New Zealand to send a naval vessel to monitor the Japanese fleet, The Dominion Post reported. The National Party suggests that the government give information on the coordinates of Japanese whalers to Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd, two conservation groups trying to halt the whaling.
The government does not plan to send a ship to follow the Japanese because the fleet is in an area of the ocean controlled by Australia. But Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick said that air force planes on routine patrol will be instructed to monitor whaling vessels for violations of international law.
