I have worked in the Ross Sea and surrounding oceans for around 10 years and have seen the Japanese whaling vessels many times. I have seen pods of Minki whales every year and some pods have well over 1000 whales. Tell me please whats the difference between killing a whale and killing a cow. maybe we have higher cow numbers and thats why no one cares about that. If you have seen the number of Minki whales for your self you would know there are plenty they are also very fast growing as far as whale growth goes. I see no problems at all with Whaling for research or commerical purposes as long as it is a controled Fishery. I believe green peace are targeting the wrong people when they head south to the Ross sea and try and stop fishing operations. The Japanese always return with there quota so in my books its a failed mission and a waste of money because let me tell you its not cheap to send a vessel all that way. The japanese on the vessels are people just like you and I trying to make a living they are sent down there by higher forces. If i was given the chance to work on a Japanese whale vessel I would in the blink of an eye. Looks like fun to me