It seems the Japanese aren't alone in their pro-whaling activities. A Norwegian lobby group is now using evidence from a study to show that whale hunting is actually better for the earth than farming cattle and other livestock.

The study shows that the fuel used on hunting harpoons uses 1.9 kilos of greenhouse gases for one kilo of whale meat as opposed to beef, which uses 15.8, pork (6.4) and chicken (4.6).

"Basically it turns out that the best thing you can do for the planet is to eat whale meat compared to other types of meat," said Rune Froevik of the High North Alliance, which represents the interests of coastal communities in the Arctic.

"Greenhouse gas emissions caused by one meal of beef are the equivalent of eight meals of whale meat," the study said.

Greenpeace has dismissed the study and claim no meat is still the best answer.

"The survival of a species is more important than lower greenhouse gas emissions from eating it," said Truls Gulowsen of Greenpeace. "Almost every food is more climate friendly than meat. Most fish and seafood has similarly low emissions."

The study claims tractors, ploughs and fertilizers used in raising cattle, as well as the animal themselves, are far more dentrimental than the carbon emissions from hunting boats. They also claim that the minke whale population is in no danger and the quota of whales to be hunted this year will not negatively affect their numbers.

» Reuters Environment