Japan to commence whaling mission

Japanese whaling ship Nisshin Maru leaves the port of Shimonoseki, south west Japan (file photo)
Environmentalists have clashed with the crew of Nisshin Maru before
Japan has confirmed that it will carry out its largest whaling programme in the

The mission, expected to draw strong protests from environmentalists, will depart on Sunday and breaks a 44-year moratorium on hunting humpback whales.