Whalemeat preferred

Press, 19 August 1981, Page 12

Whalemeat preferred

PA Wellington Tonga has legalised whaling after banning it in 1979 — and one of the reasons . given is that whalemeat is better than the mutton imported from New Zealand. A

According ta .the official “Tonga Chronicle’” a to repeal the 1979 Amendment Act on Whaling; Law was passed in Tonga’s Legislative Assembly by 13 votes ttf 3. ■;•

Tonga is one of . the few countries where, until very recently, men hunted the rare humpback whale from, small boats' and out-riggers

using hand harpoons. The main whaling season is from July to October. About 10 whales a season are killed, and such is the demand for meat that even the skin and blubber are eaten. The People’s representative, Mr Joe Tu’ilatai Mataele, who tabled the repeal motion, said that Tonga needed whalemeat for its protein, but other whaling nations such as the Soviet Union and Japan killed whales only for their oil. A representative from Vava’ii, Mr Masao Paasi, said that although Tonga

- ;<■:.-.a;'. ? used to kill not more than 10 i whales, a year for meat, J developed nations killed hun- < deeds of whales for products J of only secondary import- « arice. | Mr Sitili Fingeanganofo —' Tupouniua said that lifting - the ban would mean whalemeat could cut down the quantity of mutton flaps imported, which would help g the trade ihbalance. The Minister of Police, Mr Akau'ola, opposed the motion, saying that the,. whale was near extinction. V\ After a three-day the motion was passed. V*