Japan Is Back to Killing Whales in the Name of Research

In 1987, Japan announced it would begin a program of “research whaling” in the Antarctic, taking advantage of Article VIII of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW), which states that “any Contracting Government may grant to any of its nationals a special permit authorizing that national to kill, take and treat whales for purposes of scientific research”.

After a decade of harassment by Sea Shepherd, Japan was forced to abandon its 2014-15 Southern Ocean hunt after the International Court of Justice said the annual expedition was a commercial activity masquerading as research.

The group has clashed with Japanese whaling ships in the past.

While Japan said that the operation will be conducted to collect “scientific data”, those opposing the claim say that whales need not be slaughtered for research.

Japan has been accused of making use of a loophole in the ban on commercial whaling that came into effect in 1986 to carry out lethal “research whaling” created to determine the creatures’ population numbers and migration routes. Attorney-General George Brandis said Australia was “very disappointed” over Japan’s decision to continue its operations, adding that matters have been taken up to “the highest levels” to persuade Japan to halt its whaling program.

Labor’s environment spokesman, Mark Butler, said that Australia’s concerns not being heeded properly by Japan reflected poorly on relations between the countries. The Japanese Fisheries Agency has notified the IWC that it will resume whaling in the 2015-16 season under a revised plan.

On one hand, nervous governments are demanding that China be more assertive and follow established rules and on the other, Tokyo is in total disregard of the worldwide rules on whaling.

“Japan can not unilaterally decide whether it has adequately addressed the scientific committee’s questions”.

“Moreover, in terms of Japan’s global public image, whaling is a losing proposition”.

Other ecological societies have also opposed Japan’s decision.

Conservation group Sea Shepherd, which annually sent boats to disrupt the Japanese whaling fleet, warned any return to whaling by Japan would be illegal.

“We would like to remind the Japanese government that the whales of the Southern Ocean are protected by worldwide law, by Australian law and by Sea Shepherd. Any violation of the sanctity of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary or the Australian Whale Sanctuary will be regarded as a criminal act”.

Last year, Japan did go to the Antarctic but its research did not involve killing any whales.

Japan had been petitioning the IWC since at least November previous year, sending its plans for whale catching and promising to publish its findings in scientific journals. It has also refused to believe that most species are endangered and has pointed out that eating whale meat is a part of Japan’s food culture.