Japan resumes commercial whale hunts for first time in three decades

Japan resumed commercial whaling for the first time in more than three decades — despite low demand and condemnation from conservationists.

The whaling boats set out on a commercial hunting expedition Monday following the country’s controversial decision to exit the International Whaling Commission, an organization dedicated to whale conservation.

Its withdrawal was announced last year, with Japan claiming that whale stocks had recovered enough to hunt the marine mammal again.