The capture and slaughter of dolphins at Taiji cove is an abhorrent practice and an entirely preventable tragedy for marine life. The Government takes the same view, and has made representations to the Government of Japan on these issues.
In May 2015 the UK Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission met the Japanese Commissioner and in March 2015 officials from the Japanese Embassy, where he strongly re-iterated the UK Government's opposition to their continued hunting of cetaceans. Then the following July, our Fisheries Minister, George Eustice, wrote to the Japanese Government to raise the UK's opposition to their on-going coastal hunts and continued programme of lethal scientific research on cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises).
As such the Japanese Government can be in no doubt as to the strength of feeling in the UK on these matters. I am assured that the Government will continue to raise its concerns, including our opposition to so called 'scientific whaling', at every appropriate opportunity.