International pressure to curb illegal whale hunting is gaining ground in Asian countries as the species comes under endangered mammals. As a result South Korea announced that it will tighten rules on whaling and the processing of whale meat. The agriculture ministry said the new rules, to take effect on Monday, will require fishermen to report to police immediately discoveries of whales trapped in their nets or washed ashore.
In its statement South Korean government said that those who claim to have caught dead whales will be required by law to process and sell them only at state-designated facilities, and only those with state permits will be allowed to trade whale meat. The officials also mentioned that DNA samples of dead whales should be submitted to authorities as demanded by the International Whaling Commission, so that the government can trace origins of the animals.
According to the information revealed by the ministry the new law is aimed to help curb a “growing number of illegal whale hunting” around the country. Since 1986
South Korea has banned whaling for commercial sale. But the government allows trading of those accidentally caught dead in fishing nets on washed up dead onshore.
