Japan's new whaling program is a small win for whales, but

• Main Authors: Hodgson-Johnston, I, Jabour, JA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: The Conversation Media Group 2014
• Subjects: Law and Legal Studies; Law; Environmental and Natural Resources Law; Antarctic; Antarctic Ocean; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://theconversation.com/japans-new-whaling-program-is-a-small-win-for-whales-but-34420; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/96962

This week, Japan announced a research plan for its New Scientific Whale Research Program in the Antarctic Ocean, to replace previous programs.In March this year, Japans previous whaling program, JARPA II, was deemed not for the purposes of scientific research by the International Court of Justice. It was therefore illegal under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, a law developed by members of the International Whaling Commission, including Australia and Japan.The convention and commission are charged with conserving whales and managing the commercial whaling industry.Compared to previous programs, Japans new whaling program is spread across a larger area of the ocean around the Antarctic, but will kill fewer whales. It has been submitted to the commission and its scientific committee. However, Japan doesnt have to wait for any sort of approval from these bodies.In response to the announcement, Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson has called for the Australian government to back up the court judgment and pile on diplomatic pressure.