The Japanese whaling fleet set has set sail to the Southern Ocean in defiance of international condemnation with plans to land what could be the biggest catch of minke and humpback whales since the 1960s. As it has for more than two decades, the Japanese Government referred to the expedition as “scientific”.

As part of its declared mission to collect scientific data on the age and “mode of life” of Antarctic whale stocks, the Japanese fleet is hoping for a haul of 850 minke — an increase of 70 per cent from last season. For the first time in more than 40 years, harpoons will also be aimed at humpback and fin whales. Since the 1986 international moratorium on commercial whaling, Japan has conducted its annual outing to the Southern Ocean under the auspices of the Institute of Cetacean Research — a body set up in 1987.

Footage of Japanese whaling shows whales taking over half an hour to die a very slow and agonising death but the International Whaling Commission does not ban hunting whales for scientific purposes.