Australia Confronts Japan's 'Scientific' Whaling Program in Antarctic Waters

Japan is known for its "scientific" whaling expeditions. These missions hunt whales, hauling them onboard where they're processed and then sold. Now, Australia is speaking out. The country has warned that these whaling expeditions are a dangerous precedent with potentially devastating consequences, and Australian lawyers are urging the United Nations' highest court to ban hunting in Antarctic waters.

Hunting whales hasn't always been banned. It was only in 1975 that the plight of these mammals really came into the forefront of the media, though widespread hunting was reigned in during a 1946 convention. In 1975, though, Greenpeace launched its Save the Whale campaign, trying to gather support to save several species. Since then, hunting whales has been closely regulated by the International Whaling Commission. Some countries, though, are allowed to take a certain catch for scientific experimentation. Japan has long benefited from this rule, taking whales that eventually end up on the market, sold for their meat.

Now, Australia is highlighting Japan's current scientific whaling program, calling for it to come to a complete halt in the Antarctic. Its case at the International Court of Justice, supported by New Zealand, is just the latest step in years of attempts by governments and environmental groups to stop Japan's whaling fleet, according to the AP.

The main issue is the fact that Japan has asserted its right to take up to 935 minke whales in the Antarctic. If every country were to act the same way, a total of 83,215 minke whales would be taken, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. This would have devastating consequences for the whale population and could drive the species toward extinction.

"Japan seeks to cloak its ongoing commercial whaling in the lab coat of science," said Bill Campbell, Australia's agent to the court, in an interview with the AP. "You don't kill 935 whales in a year to conduct scientific research. You don't even need to kill one whale to conduct scientific research."

It will take months before the court finally decides on a final, binding decision on the legality of Japan's hunt. Until then, though, Australia and environmental organizations are planning on continuing the fight against taking whales in the Antarctic.