Japan to end scientific whaling

Kimberley Whale Watching welcomes the UN International Court of Justice’s decision to ban Japan’s scientific whaling programme.    The ICJ’s 16 member judging panel voted 12 votes to 4 in favour of Australia’s argument that Japan’s programme was not designed for scientific purposes, and ordered that Japan’s permits be revoked and no more issued.

Although Japan signed the 1986 moratorium on whaling, they continued to pursue their scientific whaling programme, hunting up to 850 minke whales per year in the Southern Ocean.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s government launched the legal action in 2010.  Mr Rudd stated that “It’s great for these extraordinary creatures of the deep – whether they be minke whales or humpback whales or fin whales – it’s all part of an important global conservation effort.”

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/international-court-of-justice-upholds-australias-bid-to-ban-japanese-whaling-in-antarctica-20140331-35ude.html