Japan has resumed commercial whaling after a benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers of over three decades. Commercial whaling was banned in 1986 by an International Whaling Commission (IWC) benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers . However, Japan withdrew from the IWC in December. Japan's benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers has promised all benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers will stay within 320 kilometers from its benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers . The Japanese fisheries agency set a benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers for killing 227 whales every six benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers . In the first days of resumed whaling, whalers caught two minke whales, which were taken to the benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers port of Kushiro. The whale meat was auctioned in Tokyo and sold for benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers prices. Eager restaurant owners snapped up the meat at benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers of up to $140 per kilo. Japan has engaged in the benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers of whaling for benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers . Whale restaurant chef Mitsuo Tani summed up why he thought the benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers of commercial whaling was important. He said: "A country that does not preserve its food culture has no benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers ." He also promoted the health benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers of whale meat. He said: "It is five times benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers in calories than beef, 10 times lower in cholesterol, two benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers less fat than chicken and it's packed with iron. But abroad, people do not know this." However, Japan's return to whaling has brought international benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers . The Humane Society accused Japan of starting a "new and benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers era of pirate whaling". It added: "This is a sad day for whale protection benefits centuries coast future globally government hiatus lower months moratorium northern outcry practice prices quota record return shocking times whalers .