International Law Blog Postings

What was originally intended in 1986 to be a 5-year "pause" in commercial whaling for the purpose of assessing scientific data and improving sustainable whaling management practices is now nearing its 20th anniversary as a de facto ban. In less than two weeks, an expected 600 participants from 61 countries will confer on the fate of the moratorium at the 57th Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) being held from 30 May to 24 June 2005 in South Korea. The provisional agenda includes annotations stating that Japan no longer considers the ban to be in effect and that Japan has prepared a "strictly confidential" plan to be disclosed at the meeting. Japan's recent media announcements indicate an impending request for a special research permit to kill endangered humpback and fin whales and an expansion of whaling in Antarctic waters, an area of territorial dispute with Australia and other nations. Japan's media announcements have sparked outrage and last-minute requests for additions to the agenda. Australia will be among the nations at the meeting calling for a permanent ban on commercial whaling, an elimination of research permits, and a restructuring of the IWC to focus strictly on conservation. Likewise, New Zealand is threatening to file suit against Japan before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Continue Reading