A Japanese whaling expedition on Monday left for the Antarctic Ocean to begin its hunting season despite international opposition. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Japanese fleet aims to catch 333 minke whales near Antarctica in the fourth whaling expedition since its temporary suspension in 2014 following an International Court of Justice ruling, reports Efe news.

The Japanese government argues that its "scientific research" whaling campaigns are aimed at supporting the management and conservation of maritime resources through the analysis of the contents of the whales' stomachs, results of which are submitted to the International Whaling Commission (IWC).