The New Zealand Government has hit out at Japan’s decision to resume Southern Ocean whaling. The decision comes despite an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling for Japan to cease all whaling, BBC News reports.
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In addition to opposition from anti-whaling nations, such as Australia and New Zealand, the whaling fleet will likely be blocked by boats chartered by environmental protection groups.
In its notification to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) on Friday, the Japanese Fisheries Agency said whale hunters would operate according to a “revised plan” that envisaged cutting annual minke whale catches by two-thirds to 333. The Expert Panel requested Japan undertake further work on whether lethal methods are necessary to achieve its research objectives.
Mr McClay said the panel’s “clear message”, echoed by commission scientists, was that Japan had failed to make a case for its “lethal research”. “It is clear that Japan’s research objectives can be met using non-lethal means”, says Mr McClay.
“Australia will continue to pursue the issue through the International Whaling Commission and in direct discussions with Japan”, he said.
Resumption of scientific whaling is set to begin in the fiscal year that ends in March 2016, but because of the need to choose a season when the waters in the Antarctic are relatively calm, the scientific whaling ships may leave port before the end of the year.
It has long maintained that most whale species are not endangered and that eating whale is part of its food culture.
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Mr Key at the time would not rule out getting the Navy involved if Japan breaches the court’s ruling.
