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APRIL 12, 2001

In a hunt approved by the Japanese government, three whaling boats on Wednesday returned to Tokyo with an estimated catch of 440 minke whales.

The hunt has been criticized by environmenalists who didn't show up this year to protest. The United States last year considered economic sanctions because Japan plans to expand the hunt to whale species protected under US law.

The Japanese government defends the hunt and says it doesn't endanger any whale species. Whaling was once a strong tradition in Japan but has decreased significantly.

Get the Story:
Three Japanese whaling boats return with hundreds of minke whales (AP 4/12)

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