Norway's decision on Tuesday to lift a ban on whale meat exports paves the way for the efficient use of whale meat, a Japanese government official said Wednesday.
"There is no custom in Norway to eat the fatty portions of whale meat. Exports to Japan will mean that resources will be fully used. We would like to explain this aspect to the International Whaling Commission in the future," said Commissioner to the IWC Minoru Morimoto.
Norway's move to lift a ban is expected to anger environmental groups and draw stronger opposition from antiwhaling nations in the IWC.