By Rhishja Cota-Larson
A new report released by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has revealed that Yahoo! Inc. is profiting from trade in products derived from endangered and threatened whales and dolphins.
The internet giant’s Japanese subsidiary, Yahoo! Japan, allows whale and dolphin product retailers to peddle their wares utilizing fee-based services on Yahoo! stores and auction sites — which translates into profits for Yahoo! Inc. via its 34.75 share of Yahoo! Japan.
Research conducted by EIA found 249 whale products for sale on Yahoo! Japan in March 2012.
Many products had originated from fin, sei, minke, sperm, and Bryde’s whales — species that are protected by CITES and the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
Yahoo! Japan was also selling products derived from small cetaceans, such as Baird’s beaked whales and pilot whales.
Other products had originated from Taiji, made famous by The Cove documentary.
Sixteen products were labelled as originating from Taiji or Wakayama, where the infamous dolphin and whale drive hunts exposed in The Cove take place.
Labeling laws in Japan require that the common name of the species be listed on the product; however, this information was not included on 34 products, including those from Taiji. More....