"Japanese whalers will set out for the Antarctic this week, but will leave their harpoons at home after the United Nations’ (UN) top court ruled last year their annual hunt was illegal, the government said Tuesday.

The Japanese Fisheries Agency said the Institute of Cetacean Research plans to conduct non-lethal research on whales until 28 March.

As the research does not involve catching whales, harpoons have been removed from the vessels, the agency said.

Two boats will set sail on Thursday to carry out “sighting surveys” and take skin samples from the huge marine mammals. A third boat will sail in support."

AFP had the story January 6, 2015. [2]