TOKYO, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Japan has set the catch limit of large whales for 2021 at 383, the same as the number for the current year, local media reported Wednesday.

The country formally withdrew from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and restarted commercial whaling within its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone in July, 2019.

According to the Fisheries Agency, the catch limit was set in line with calculations to avoid a negative impact on cetacean resources.

The agency said the catch quota was set at 295, with the total number including a potential bycatch of 37 and a quota of 51 reserved by the government.

By species, the catch limit for minke whales has been set at 171, for Bryde's whales at 187 and for Sei whales at 25, the agency said.

The IWC adopted a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1982 and Japan halted it in 1988.

Before the resumption of commercial whaling for the first time in 31 years, Japan had been catching whales for what it claimed were research purposes, a practice criticized by the international community as a cover for commercial whaling, according to local media. Enditem

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