Leading opponents of whaling dismissed yesterday's offer, which came on the opening day of the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. "Japan may have underestimated the extent to which the hunting of humpbacks will be seen as a deeply provocative action by the people of New Zealand," Chris Carter, the country's conservation minister, said.

Australia, which depends on humpbacks as the main attraction of its whale-watching industry, also condemned the proposal. "It is calculated to undermine dramatically the standing ... between the Australian and the Japanese people," said Australia's environment minister, Malcolm Turnbull. "It is a needless act of provocation."

Despite the response from its opponents, Japan said it had not given up hope of securing agreement to allow it to hunt a small number of minke whales with the meat used exclusively for local consumption. "We are open-minded for dialogue, and we might come up with a big package that will satisfy all members," said Joji Morishita, Japan's deputy whaling commissioner.