Japan plans to resume whaling this summer in the Southern Ocean. This move could lead to Australia considering court action at The Hague’s International Court of Justice. Japan says that its so-called “scientific whaling” does not impact whale survival, but the Turnbull Government and others around the globe think otherwise. Australia and New Zealand joined 32 other nations in officially protesting Japan’s whaling fleet’s attempt to hunt for 330 minke whales. In 2014,, the International Court of Justice found against Japan and called its claim of scientific whaling a “sham”. Japan stopped killing Southern Ocean whales following the recommendation of the court. Sea Shepherd activists often rammed Japanese whaling vessels and threw butyric acid on their decks. Sometimes, they even tried to climb aboard. Last summer, Captain Watson was shot by a member of the crew aboard a Japanese whaling vessel. He received a bulletproof vest. Whale Wars on Animal Planet highlighted the incident. The International Whaling Commission was notified by the Japanese Fisheries Agencies last week that it had decided to resume whaling under the revised plan. Additional legal action is possible Julie Bishop (Australia’s Foreign Minister) and Greg Hunt, its Environment Minister said that there was no scientific basis for including lethal methods into Japan’s whaling programme. To build an international consensus against Japanese whaling, we are working together with like-minded countries. We’re also looking at legal options.” Both ministries described Japan’s decision not to resume whaling as “deeply disappointing” and said that the Australian Government would continue to voice its concerns to the Japanese government. Last week, George Brandis (the Attorney-General) stated that Australia might send a patrol vessel to the Southern Ocean to monitor Japan’s killing of whales. Joji Morishita (Japan’s international whaling commissioner) stated Monday in Tokyo that Japan had fulfilled the new requirements of the International Court. Japan wants whaling to be sustainable, and healthy whale populations. How can a scientific study require the killing of four ,000 minke whaling whales within 12 year? Sea Shepherd does not plan to pursue Japanese vessels. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is a non-profit marine conservation organization. It says that its current activities are primarily in the north hemisphere. This year, it will not chase whaling vessels through the Southern Ocean. New Zealand’s acting foreign minister Todd McClay said last week that the Japanese government’s decision was deeply disappointing. New Zealand strongly opposes whaling of the Southern Ocean. Japan should heed the 2014 International Court of Justice’s decision as well as international scientific advice regarding their whaling activities.” Japan’s Fisheries Agency says that its proposed hunting plan, which would see minke whale captures reduced to 333,, a reduction of two-thirds, is “scientifically reasonable”. Sea Shepherd claims that this plan will result in almost four ,000 deaths of whales over the next 12 year, from the Ross Sea in Antarctica east to the South Atlantic. Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Hon Julie Bishop MP, said “The science is clear: all information necessary for management and conservation of whales can be obtained through non-lethal methods.” (Image: foreignminister.gov.au) Japan a ‘pirate whaling nation’ Michael Lawry, Sea Shepherd’s New Zealand Director, was quoted by STUFF.co.nz, who said regarding Japan’s whaling decision: “We did anticipate that this may happen. They’re breaking many rules, they are going against the world’s opinion and it’s causing them to be diplomatically inept. They will have to take action and begin looking into sanctions. However, I doubt they will.” Lawry said that Japan would be considered a “pirate whaling country” if it continued to kill whales in spite of the recommendations by international courts. Japan considers eating whale meat part of its culture. Japan insists that most whale species aren’t endangered. After an international whaling moratorium was lifted, the country started its “scientific whaling” in 1987,. In April 2013, Japanese authorities declared that their whaling haul from South Ocean had fallen to a new record. They blamed Sea Shepherd activists for the ‘unforgivable act of sabotage’. Video: Japan’s Whaling Fleet Sets Sail Japan’s whaler fleet set sail on its 3-month journey to Antarctica. The Japanese government says this is in the name of “scientific research”.
