Australia Threatens ICJ Legal Action Against Japan's Whaling

A whale and calf being loaded aboard a factory ship, the Nisshin Maru. 
The sign above the slipway reads, "Legal 

research under the ICRW". 

Australia released this photo to challenge that claim.

Whaling tensions have created a sea of tension between Australia and Japan over Japan's whaling fleet activities in the Southern Ocean. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith stated that Australia may consider legal action in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the issue. New Zealand has joined Australia in opposing Japan's whaling activities in the Southern Ocean. Japanese Foreign Minister stated that the threat of legal action was "unfortunate."

Japan has few allies in its whaling position. The nation has managed to continue to secure votes International Whaling Commission (IWC) votes to continue its activities, however, by the payment of quid pro quo financial aid to some of the poorest developing countries with voting power, according to Greenpeace.

"I make no bones about it," said Antigua's former Prime Minister Lester Bird. "[I]f we are able to support the Japanese and the quid pro quo is that they are going to give us some assistance ... that is part of why we do so."

(Photo: Catch from Japanese Whaling Expedition, Wikimedia Commons)


DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided here may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations. This profile may constitute attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Any correspondence with this blog does not constitute a client/attorney relationship. Neither the content on this blog nor transmissions between you and the blogger through this blog are intended to provide legal or other advice or to create an attorney-client relationship.