A hidden trade in whale meat from Japan's Antarctic hunt is alleged to have been uncovered by Greenpeace.
On their return to Japan from the Antarctic last month, crew from the factory ship Nisshin Maru were documented by Greenpeace activists taking away boxes of salted whale meat for on-selling in apparent violation of the country's "research" permit.
A crew member of the Nisshin Maru interviewed by Greenpeace said dozens of factory hands took salted meat for resale that were not included in official whaling statistics.
Greenpeace Japan's whales campaigner Junich Sato said the scale of the trade was so well organised that the ship's operators, the Government's Institute of Cetacean Research, had to know that it was occurring.
"They are turning their back on large scale corruption and theft of taxpayers' money," Mr Sato said. "What we need to know now, through a full public inquiry, is who else is profiting from the whaling programme? Who else has allowed this fraud to continue?"
The disillusioned informer also said the whalers had to throw overboard tonnes of meat last season when they tried to process more whales than were possible, after protests by Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd cut into their season.
Evidence of Greenpeace's four-month investigation was put on display in Tokyo today, prior to being handed over to the city public prosecutor's office.
A response was being sought from the Institute of Cetacean Research.
Andrew Darby, SMH
Photographer: Ted Reed TTR