Scientists trace Japanese whale meat to US restaurant

Updated April 16, 2010 10:58:54

A team of investigators has tracked down whale meat caught by Japanese whalers for scientific research, which was sold to restaurants in America. The restaurant now faces huge fines, but scientists argue it's time for the International Whaling Commission to intervene and crack down on Japan.

Presenter: Brigid Glanville
Speakers: Professor Scott Baker, Oregon State University; Phil Clapham, head of whale research, National Marine Mammal Laboratory, USA; Karen Sack, Pew Environment Group

BRIGID GLANVILLE: The scientists who found the whale meat being served as sushi were suspicious of where it came from. Genetic testing found the meat belonged to one of the breeds that is caught by the Japanese under the banner of scientific research. Professor Scott Baker from Oregon State University led the study.

SCOTT BAKER: Originally we were sent four pieces of meat. Two were thought to be whale and two were thought to be horse and I just assumed it would, perhaps, all be horse and just sold as a way to impress the local customers but it turned out the horse was cow and the whale was whale.

BRIGID GLANVILLE: The genetic test found that the meat belonged the Sei whale. While it's legal to sell whale meat in South Korea it's illegal in the United States. It's the first time whale meat has been found in a restaurant in an anti-whaling nation. Professor Baker now believes there could be more restaurants selling whale meat.

SCOTT BAKER: It shows that there is not very good control over these markets so the whales that are being taken under this scientific whaling program which is quite controversial in itself, are intended only for domestic consumption and yet now it seems to be making its way around the world and that is a poor, I think a poor indicator of the potential to control this in the future without better mechanisms.

BRIGID GLANVILLE: Japan claims it currently catches up to 1,500 whales each year for scientific research. The scientists who discovered the illegal whale meat want an international database established so all those whales can be tracked. Phil Clapham is the leader of the whale research program at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle.

PHILLIP CLAPHAM: What happens essentially is that you would have a DNA register so anything that is killed in the whaling business, every whale that is killed gets a DNA fingerprint essentially - a sample of that tissue goes forward and then it goes into a database. Then you go out into the market and you sample from the market randomly and theoretically if a trade is completely controlled, everything that is in the market should match something in that database and if it doesn't, it tells you that there is a problem and that there is meat coming from other sources.

BRIGID GLANVILLE: So there is meat coming from the scientific catch?

PHILLIP CLAPHAM: Correct, that is exactly where it's, that is the only place it is coming from right now within Japan.

BRIGID GLANVILLE: Criminal proceedings have started against the upmarket Los Angeles restaurant caught selling the meat. It's now closed but its owners could face a year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.