Photo. ALAMY
International Court of Justice This morning I woke up to the news that the UN International Court of Justice in the Hague has ruled that Japan’s Antarctic whaling programme is not scientific and is therefore illegal. The court has ordered a temporary halt to the program.
Australia had brought the case in May 2010 claiming that Japan’s whaling programme was not scientific and the court agreed. Japan currently have two “scientific” whaling programmes which they have been conducting through a loop hole in the international agreements that ban commercial whaling. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has allowed for limited whaling for “scientific” purposes. Two other countries-Norway and Iceland rejected the international moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986 when the ban was introduced, left the IWC and continue to whale for commercial profit.
Australia had brought the case in May 2010 claiming that Japan’s whaling programme was not scientific and the court agreed. Japan currently have two “scientific” whaling programmes which they have been conducting through a loop hole in the international agreements that ban commercial whaling. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has allowed for limited whaling for “scientific” purposes. Two other countries-Norway and Iceland rejected the international moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986 when the ban was introduced, left the IWC and continue to whale for commercial profit.
While Japan have agreed to abide by the decision of the court –a decision that Australia, environmental groups and whale lovers are celebrating around the world, I think that things are not this straight forward. Most of the reports that I am seeing are making claims that this is the end of Japan’s whaling programmes and perhaps even those of Iceland and Norway, but I am not so sure. At the moment I see a number of outcomes and not all of them are as positive as a total ban on commercial whaling.... yes call me a party pooper but I think that we need to think about and address the following points:
1. Japan’s “scientific” whaling programme in the North Pacific was not included in this court decision and it is not yet clear if the court ordered halt on Japan issuing whaling permits (until their Antarctic programme has been thoroughly revamped) also affects their North Pacific programme.
2. Japan could simply leave the IWC and continue to whale for commercial purposes as Iceland and Norway do. Japan have been threatening to do this for a number of years now and the reason that this is a concern to other anti-commercial whaling nations and scientists is because we will have no control Japan’s whaling activities – something that we do currently cling to as they remain members of the IWC.
3. That Japan actually do cease their “scientific” whaling program and also pull the plug on their North Pacific programme. This last possibility would be fantastic and well worth all the celebrations!!
1. Japan’s “scientific” whaling programme in the North Pacific was not included in this court decision and it is not yet clear if the court ordered halt on Japan issuing whaling permits (until their Antarctic programme has been thoroughly revamped) also affects their North Pacific programme.
2. Japan could simply leave the IWC and continue to whale for commercial purposes as Iceland and Norway do. Japan have been threatening to do this for a number of years now and the reason that this is a concern to other anti-commercial whaling nations and scientists is because we will have no control Japan’s whaling activities – something that we do currently cling to as they remain members of the IWC.
3. That Japan actually do cease their “scientific” whaling program and also pull the plug on their North Pacific programme. This last possibility would be fantastic and well worth all the celebrations!!
International Whaling Commission So I will be following this year’s IWC meeting with interest –and with my fingers crossed. I am really, really routing for outcome number three; there is nothing scientific about Japan’s whale hunt and it is about time that this is recognized, accepted , the loop hole closed and the whaling program stopped for good. However, for now I will be celebrating this victory for whale conservation with reservation as I think that the fight is far from over.
News sources 31 March 2014
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/japan-s-antarctic-whaling-program-not-scientific-world-court-says-1.2592382
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26818863
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/mar/31/japanese-whaling-halt-antarctic-international-court
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-31/ijc-japan-whaling-southern-ocean-scientific-research/5357416
News sources 31 March 2014
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/japan-s-antarctic-whaling-program-not-scientific-world-court-says-1.2592382
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26818863
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/mar/31/japanese-whaling-halt-antarctic-international-court
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-31/ijc-japan-whaling-southern-ocean-scientific-research/5357416
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