The industry has been subsidized by the Japanese government since 1988. The price of whale meat is now lower than beef or reindeer meat in Norway, the other major country hunting whales on a commercial scale. Nevertheless, Japan is making headway through the IWC, seeking to end the international moratorium {"whaling moratorium"} on whaling in its coastal waters in exchange for lower quotas in Antarctic waters. Japan apparently sees the whaling issue in terms of protecting national sovereignty despite a declining demand for whale meat in its domestic market. Incredibly, their effort is being supported by the United States.{Betraying the Whales, 4.2.10} It is taking the official position that continuing the moratorium is impractical. There appears to be a growing black market in whale meat. Last year nearly 1700 whales were taken compared to 300 in 1999. The US is willing to allow Japan, Norway and Iceland to continue reduced commercial hunting for ten years. Australia has said it may take the Japanese to court for abusing the research exception to the moratorium as cover for commercial hunting. Conservationists see the US brokered deal as a sell out of a hard won international consensus against further exploitation of whales, once hunted by man to near extinction. The IWC meets in June to consider the moratorium's fate. Go here to sign a petition against the resumption of commercial whaling.[photo: a slaughtered whale and her calf are hauled abroad a Japanese whaler, Australian Customs Service]