Study finds whale cull unnecessary

Whale researchers just returned from Antarctic waters say they have proven that Japan's annual kill of whales for scientific purposes is unnecessary.

During the voyage, Australian, French and New Zealand scientists used non-lethal techniques to study whales. It was a challenge to Japan's scientific programme, which kills up to 1,000 of the mammals a year – an allowed exception to the International Whaling Commission's 1986 ban on commercial whaling.

Critics say the project is a front for commercial whaling, with the meat sold for food in Japan.

The expedition that ended yesterday was the first in a five-year research programme proposed by the Australian government and agreed by the IWC.