He said black whales and bottlenose dolphins captured off Taiji -
some of which are sold to aquariums each year - would be released into the area,
creating a whale amusement park. But Mr Wada made it clear that the controversial and bloody dolphin
slaughter in nearby Hatakejiri Bay - carried out by stabbing the mammals with
sharp stakes - would continue as usual.
"Both of the concepts can coexist," he said.
"The town of Taiji is close to the Pacific Ocean and we can harvest
various types of fruits of the sea including whales. We would like to display
our cuisine culture.
"Now we have Kujira Katsu Burger (whale cutlet burger) sold at our
swimming beach and it sells well.
"Of course there are some people who do not eat it, but it's about
individual freedom.
"Our town will proceed with the concept that there is food culture,
as well as tourism, when it comes to whales.
"We are not doing anything wrong, and we do not aim to cease our
legitimate business because of criticism from outside."
The Cove, released in 2009, brought Taiji, 500km southwest of
Tokyo, to worldwide attention, winning an Oscar the following year, after
graphically showing the killing of the dolphins, thanks in part to hidden
underwater cameras.
Activists continue to visit the town to protest the hunt and have
already signalled (sic) they will oppose the marine park plan.
Taiji fishermen, and many Japanese across the country, are
surprised by the strength of foreign criticism of whaling, arguing there is no
distinction between the practice and that of killing and eating other
species.
THE GOOD NEWS
Training dolphins for people’s entertainment is no longer a tourist
attraction in India. The country will instead close the many dolphin
parks built across the country and ban any other commercial
entertainment, which captures and confines orcas and bottlenose
dolphins.