Japan plans to double its whale catch in the northwest Pacific Ocean and add sei whales to the list, a government official said, rebuffing international criticism of the country's whaling program. A total of 50 sei whales will be caught during the June-October season as part of Japan's research of whale feeding habits, migrations and life cycles, said Takanori Ohashi, an official with Japan's Fisheries Agency. Under the research program, Japan will hunt 150 minkes, 50 Bryde's and 10 sperm whales in the northwest Pacific as well as the sei whales. Sei whales grow as long as 85 feet. The hunt is permitted by the IWC*, but opponents say Japan's research is commercial whaling in disguise. Whale meat is often sold later in Japanese restaurants. Based on visual research conducted since 1994 by the Japan's Fisheries Agency, the Japanese government estimates there are around 100,000 sei whales in waters around the world, including about 28,000 in the northwest Pacific.

　　日本一位政府官员说，日本计划把在西北太平洋海域捕鲸的数量增加一倍，并将大须鲸也列为捕捉对象，他还驳斥了国际社会对该国捕鲸计划的批评。日本渔业厅官员大桥高典(音)说，日本将在六月至十月的捕鲸季节捕捉50头大须鲸，这是对鲸鱼的食性、迁徙习惯和生命周期的研究项目的一部分。根据此研究计划，除大须鲸之外，日本还将捕猎150头小须鲸、50头布莱德鲸(也是一种须鲸——译者注)以及10头抹香鲸。大须鲸体长可达85英尺。日本的捕鲸行动得到国际捕鲸委员会的首肯，但反对者们认为日本的所谓研究只不过是经过了伪装的商业捕鲸。之后这些鲸鱼肉经常会出现在日本的餐馆中。依据渔业厅自1994年开始的观测结果，日本政府估计世界各地的海洋中共有大约10万头大须鲸，其中约28,000头生活在西北太平洋海域。

　　Remarks：补充一条相关的背景材料：IWC于1986年宣布禁止商业捕鲸行为，日本则于1987年开始“科研”捕鲸。