Japan rejects plan to limit whaling to its waters

The proposal would allow Japan to hunt whales commercially in its territorial waters in exchange for phasing out its research whale hunt in the Antarctic Ocean.

Japan quickly said that wasn't good enough.

"We cannot accept a proposal that discontinues our research hunting," Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters.

The world body, which regulated the hunting of many species of whales, has been paralyzed by a clash between pro- and anti-whaling countries.