By Ramya Kannan
A Japanese whaling boat was caught operating illegally in Australian waters by Sea Shepherd, an environmental activism group. The ship, which belonged to the Nisshin Maru whaler factory, had a dead Minke whale on board. It was hurriedly covered by the crew members when they realised that the Australian environmental agencys helicopter was on patrol.
By resuming whaling operations, the Japanese have violated a ruling passed by the International Court of Justice in 2014. This ruling banned Japanese Antarctic Whaling, and ordered Japan to withdraw all permits to whale in Antarctic waters. While the Japanese claimed that their operations fell under the category of scientific research, it was considered to be a disguise for commercial hunting by the Court.
Japanese whaling agencies have systematically exploited the provisions for Research in the International laws | Photo Courtesy: Special Broadcasting Service, Australia[su_pullquote align=”right”]The Japanese have systematically exploited the provision for scientific research in the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling[/su_pullquote]
Since the ban on commercial hunting of whales by the International Whaling Commission in 1986, Japan has repeatedly resisted anti-whaling norms. It resumed its whaling operations under the name of a scientific program to bridge the gap in statistical data. The Japanese have systematically exploited the provision for scientific research in the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. Through programs like the Japanese Research Program in the Antarctic (JARPA II), they claim to undertake commercial whale hunting in a sustainable manner in an attempt to collect accurate scientific data.
While Japan is not the only country which continues to support whaling, it cites the abundance of certain species of whales as harmful to the ecosystem. Japanese whaling agencies have tried to justify the killing of Minke whales by stating that a significant fall in their numbers will not cause major environmental disruption.
Why does the activity continue despite repeated condemnation?
The Japanese consider whale meat to be a crucial dietary requirement, and it is an indicator of their cultural identity.
Although whaling operations are undertaken by both small scale and large scale firms in Japan, they play only a small role in the economy. Therefore, income is not the most prominent concern for those who defend whaling. Japans socio-cultural structures have major influence on its international practices. The Japanese consider whale meat to be a crucial dietary requirement, and it is an indicator of their cultural identity. Norms that prevent them from continuing these practices are seen as unnecessary western interventions. This popular public perception has discouraged numerous environmental NGOs in Japan from taking up the cause of protection of whales.
[su_pullquote]The autocracy of the whaling industry can be seen as an assertion of political power by these agencies[/su_pullquote]
Moreover, individuals and organisations within Japan who recognize the need to oppose whaling are blocked by the bureaucratic industry. Whaling policy is controlled by the Fisheries Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), which represent the Japanese government at the International Whaling Commission (IWC). These organisations exclude all other stakeholders from decision-making processes, preventing any opposition. The autocracy of the whaling industry can be seen as an assertion of political power by these agencies. They maintain that Japan has the cultural and legal right to use whale meat for scientific as well as commercial purposes.
Japans refusal to follow international norms on whaling will force the Australian government to find other ways to stop whale hunting in its waters. The blatant violation of environmental laws in Australian waters could affect the relationship between the two countries, especially since it occurred a day after Prime Minister Shinzo Abes official visit to Australia.