In a bid to help lift a global moratorium on hunting of whales, Japan has invited all the 72 members of the International Whaling Commission (iwc) for a special meeting.

The meeting is to demonstrate support from other pro-whaling countries like the African, Pacific and Caribbean nations, note media reports. Japan contends that eating whale meat is its cherished tradition and there are enough stocks of some whale species to allow limited hunting. Of the anti-whaling nations, only a handful have agreed so far to the meeting, while 26 anti-whaling nations, including Australia, have planned to boycott it. Conservationists fear the meeting might strain the international whaling regime.