北海道ニュースUHB

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First catch: 7.9-meter, 5.4-ton minke whale to be sold locally; season runs through October

KUSHIRO, Hokkaido — Japan’s commercial whaling season off the coast of Kushiro began on August 20. Just two days later, on August 22, the first minke whale was landed at Kushiro Port.

The animal measured 7.9 meters in length and weighed 5.4 tons. It was caught by a vessel from the Taiji Fisheries Cooperative in Wakayama Prefecture.

“The size looked just right, and it seemed to have a good amount of fat,” the ship’s captain commented.

On the same day, a total of two whales were landed. The whale meat is expected to reach fresh fish shops in Kushiro as early as next week. The commercial whaling season in the region will continue through the end of October.

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