Japan to 'redesign' whale hunt in Antarctic despite ICJ ruling

Updated

Japan says it will redesign its controversial whaling activities in the Antarctic after a United Nations court ruled it was a commercial hunt masquerading as science.

Japanese fisheries minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said the ruling upheld the notion of "the sustainable use of whales as a resource" and the country would continue its research whaling program.

"Based on this ... and in line with international law and scientific principles, our nation will carry out research whaling to get the scientific information essential to manage whales as a resource," he said.

"We will carry out extensive studies in cooperation with ministries concerned to submit a new research program by this autumn to the International Whaling Commission, reflecting the criteria laid out in the verdict."

Mr Hayashi, who met with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe before making the announcement on Friday, also confirmed an earlier announcement that the 2014-15 hunt in the Southern Ocean would not go ahead.

The UN's International Court of Justice (IJC) ruled last month that Antarctic whaling breached agreements banning commercial hunts.

The ruling does not apply to a separate Japanese mission in the Pacific Ocean.

Mr Hayashi said Japan's "research" program in the north-western Pacific, which is due to depart Japanese shores on April 26, would continue, albeit in a slightly reduced form.

The court ruled the Japanese mission was catching far too many whales for it to be considered legitimate scientific research.

"We will conduct JARPN II (second phase north-western Pacific whaling) by reducing its scale ... in view of the verdict," the minister said.

In documents filed with the US district court in Seattle earlier this month, Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research said it would return to the Southern Ocean in 2015-16 with a newly designed research program.

Immediately following the ICJ ruling Mr Abe said he would abide by the court ruling that has banned the nation's controversial Antarctic whale hunt.

At the time, the conservative leader told Japan's chief whaling negotiator he would respect the judgment issued by the ICJ.

Japanese whaling restrictions: a brief history Photo: Whaling timeline (Supplied: IWC) December 2, 1946 : The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is born as 15 countries sign the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW). Australia was one of the signatories but Japan was not.

: The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is born as 15 countries sign the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW). Australia was one of the signatories but Japan was not. April 24, 1951 : Japan becomes a signatory to the convention and becomes part of the IWC. Japan briefly withdrew from the commission from 1985-87 (See below).

: Japan becomes a signatory to the convention and becomes part of the IWC. Japan briefly withdrew from the commission from 1985-87 (See below). July 23, 1982 : The IWC votes to implement a "pause" on commercial whaling, with catch limits set at zero, starting in 1985. This has become known as the moratorium on commercial whaling, and has been in place ever since.

: The IWC votes to implement a "pause" on commercial whaling, with catch limits set at zero, starting in 1985. This has become known as the moratorium on commercial whaling, and has been in place ever since. 1985-1987 : Japan defies the moratorium and catches around 5,500 whales "under objection" during 1985, 1986 and the first half of 1987. During this period Japan was effectively not a member of the IWC.

: Japan defies the moratorium and catches around 5,500 whales "under objection" during 1985, 1986 and the first half of 1987. During this period Japan was effectively not a member of the IWC. 1987- : Japan rejoins the IWC and starts hunting whales for scientific research, in accordance with the 1946 convention. Article VIII of the ICRW allows a signatory country to issue itself permits for scientific whaling "subject to such restrictions as to number and subject to such other conditions as the contracting government thinks fit". Japan has taken more than 10,000 whales under this regime, with much of the catch ending up on Japanese dinner plates.

: Japan rejoins the IWC and starts hunting whales for scientific research, in accordance with the 1946 convention. Article VIII of the ICRW allows a signatory country to issue itself permits for scientific whaling "subject to such restrictions as to number and subject to such other conditions as the contracting government thinks fit". Japan has taken more than 10,000 whales under this regime, with much of the catch ending up on Japanese dinner plates. July 2004 : Reports suggest Japan is considering leaving the IWC to join a pro-whaling organisation, NAMMCO.

: Reports suggest Japan is considering leaving the IWC to join a pro-whaling organisation, NAMMCO. 2006 : The IWC passes a resolution - by one vote - calling for an eventual return to commercial whaling. Japan has since expressed its frustration that little has been done on this front.

: The IWC passes a resolution - by one vote - calling for an eventual return to commercial whaling. Japan has since expressed its frustration that little has been done on this front. 2007 : The IWC asks Japan to refrain from issuing a permit to hunt whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Japan ignores the request and continues its annual southern whale hunt.

: The IWC asks Japan to refrain from issuing a permit to hunt whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Japan ignores the request and continues its annual southern whale hunt. 2007/2008 : The Australian government sends a ship, the Oceanic Viking, to the Southern Ocean to observe the Japanese whale hunt and gather evidence for a possible legal challenge. The government releases photos of harpooned whales and publicly questions the integrity of Japan's scientific research.

: The Australian government sends a ship, the Oceanic Viking, to the Southern Ocean to observe the Japanese whale hunt and gather evidence for a possible legal challenge. The government releases photos of harpooned whales and publicly questions the integrity of Japan's scientific research. May 31, 2010 : Australia formally launches litigation in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, claiming that Japan "has breached and is continuing to breach" its international obligations.

: Australia formally launches litigation in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, claiming that Japan "has breached and is continuing to breach" its international obligations. June/July 2013 : The ICJ hears submissions from Australia and Japan. New Zealand takes the opportunity to throw its support behind Australia by presenting its own submissions to the hearing.

: The ICJ hears submissions from Australia and Japan. New Zealand takes the opportunity to throw its support behind Australia by presenting its own submissions to the hearing. March 31, 2014: The ICJ rules that Japan's whaling program in seas near Antarctica is not for scientific purposes, agreeing with Australia that Tokyo should revoke permits to catch and kill whales for research purposes.

ABC/wires

Topics: mammals---whales, science, international-law, japan

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