Just days after an International Whaling Commission review of the Japanese government's so-called "research" programme (JARPA) showed that virtually nothing has been learnt about whale populations in the Southern Ocean, the Nisshin Maru has returned to port with a haul of 508 whales. The whalers were 452 animals short of their target and the three remaining ships in the fleet are expected to return to port shortly.

JARPA was an 18 year programme carried out from 1987/88 to 2004/05 - killing 6,778 minke whales over that period. The IWC repeatedly asked Japan to call off the programme, as the data was not needed and recommended that scientific research involving the killing of cetaceans should only be permitted where critically important research needs are addressed. The meat from the whales that Japan kill ends up on supermarket shelves and restaurant tables.

This season's hunt was marked by several violent clashes with anti-whaling activists. A fire also broke out onboard, killing one crew member and causing millions of dollars in damages to the vessel. Much of the whale meat onboard was damaged by the fire and by chemicals used to fight the fire. The whalers have vowed to repair the damages and return to the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary in December 2007 to once again illegally kill whales. However this time, they will also be targeting humpbacks and fin whales.

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