Japan removes humpback whales from Antarctic hunt

By Teruaki Ueno

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's whaling fleet in the Antarctic will avoid killing humpback whales for now, but will press on with plans to slay 1,000 other whales by early in the New Year, a government official said Friday.

The move follows Australia's announcement Wednesday that it would send a fisheries patrol ship to gather evidence for a possible International Court challenge to halt Japan's yearly slaughter.

Plans by Japan to include 50 endangered humpbacks in its annual hunt had sparked an outcry from activists.

Popular among whale watchers for their distinctive silhouette and acrobatic leaps, humpbacks were hunted to near extinction until the International Whaling Commission (IWC) ordered their protection in 1966.

"Japan has decided not to catch humpback whales for one year or two," government spokesman Nobutaka Machimura told reporters.

"Japan's relations with Australia could improve, but it depends on how it will see our decision."

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said through a spokesman that while the move was welcome, there was no good reason for Japan to continue any sort of whaling.

Australia, Britain, France and Germany were among 30 nations who lodged a joint diplomatic protest with the Japanese Foreign Ministry on Friday over Tokyo's annual whale hunt.