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Clashes at Whaling MeetingAustralia has refused to protect Japanese whaling fleets, in the southern ocean, at the annual International Whaling Commission [IWC] talks in the Channel Islands.
Japan called on Australia for extra protection fearing sabotage and violence from anti-whaling activists, but the Australian Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, says Australia refuses to oblige, Radio Australia Pacific Beat reported on July 14.
Mr Burke led the Australian delegation in the 63rd annual IWC meeting in Jersey, one of a group of islands off the north west coast of France, the first meeting since the Australian government made a case against Japanese whaling last year to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
Australia believes whaling carried out by Japan is commercial and not scientific—Japan says whaling is purely for scientific and cultural purposes.
Mr Burke said in a press release, that the ICW meeting was an opportunity for Australia to demonstrate its commitment to conservation reforms for the protection of whales.
He said that while good progress was being made towards improving the global conservation of whales, commercial whaling remained a key threat.
“This IWC is an opportunity for Australia to once again show the world our commitment to doing what it takes to protect whales and how we are leading the way in this important cause.”
Despite Australia repeatedly calling on Japan to cease its illegal whaling activities, Japan has refused to do so.
The Memorial will remain confidential until its public release is ordered by the Court, which is likely to be at the first oral hearing of the case. Japan must file its Counter-Memorial by March 9, 2012.
The United Kingdom also voiced its concern at the meeting in response to allegations of corruption, in which poorer nations’ membership fees are allegedly being paid, by pro-whaling nations, to keep them on side.
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