Australia announced this week it was launching a new push to stop Japan’s annual whale hunt, including sending surveillance planes and a ship to gather evidence for a possible international legal challenge.
Earlier this week the Government announced Australia will send the customs ship the Oceanic Viking to monitor the Japanese fleet and put in place a range of diplomatic measures to step up pressure on Japan.
Japan has since promised not to include humpback whales in its cull in Antarctica this season. Mr Smith says the suspension is a positive step, but there is more work to be done. The mission also aims to take as many as 935 minke whales and up to 50 fin whales in what Japan’s Fisheries Agency says is its largest-ever scientific whale hunt.
“We will continue bilateral pressure on Japan, our bilateral diplomatic efforts to make the point to Japan that we want their so-called lethal scientific whaling to stop.”
Mr Smith says he and the Japanese Foreign Minister discussed the importance of Australia and Japan’s strategic relationship being maintained despite a difference of opinion on the issue.
The Whale and Dolphin Watching Association of Australia has welcomed Japan’s move to suspend the killing of humpback whales, but says it will not be completely happy until the Japanese stop whaling altogether.
“It’s a sham – everyone knows that there’s no research done, you don’t have to go out and kill 900 whales just to find out what whales are about. Whale and Dolphin Watching vice-president Brian Perry says there is no reason why the Japanese should continue with whaling of any sort. “We probably know more about the whales than what the Japanese do, just by interacting with them.”
