whale burgers $4.50

A Japanese fast food chain says it will sell 200 whale burgers a day to meet strong demand from its customers amid global criticism over the country's bid to expand whaling.

Burger chain Lucky Pierrot, which runs 10 shops on the northern island of Hokkaido, says the burger using minke whales caught under Japan's controversial "research" whaling program is selling like hotcakes.

"We fry minke whale meat and the burger really tastes like beef," manager Miku Oh said.

"We have decided to add a whale burger to our menu due to strong demand from our customers and feel very thankful to the whales for allowing us to make the burgers."

Twenty whale burgers, each priced at 380 yen ($4.50), will be sold from Thursday at each of the chain's 10 outlets.

The launch of the whale burger came as the International Whaling Commission rejected a bid by Japan today to resume commercial catches of minke whales in the Pacific Ocean.

Japan, which calls anti-whaling campaigners disrespectful of its culture, kills whales as research under a clause in a 1986 moratorium.

Japan is campaigning for a full-scale return to commercial catches, saying whale stocks have recovered sufficiently during the 19-year ban.

It also plans to double its hunt of minke whales and to resume killing endangered fin whales and vulnerable humpbacks, despite fierce opposition including from Australia.

Ms Oh says the restaurant is aware of global criticism over Japan's efforts to expand research whale hunting but argues that eating whale meat is part of the country's traditional food and should be treated with respect.

"We value our whale food culture and would like to offer it to our customers," she said.

"We have a long tradition of eating whale meat as a port in Hakodate used to be a major whaling hub."

Earlier this year, most schools in Wakayama, Japan's western whaling heartland, resumed whale lunches which had gone off the menu amid global anti-whaling campaigns.

Hoping children will take a liking to whale, the schools have served the meat in burgers and marinated it in sweet and sour sauce.

-AFP

Dave R.