Australia urges Japan not to resume commercial whaling

Australia remains opposed to all forms of commercial and so-called ‘scientific’ whaling, says minister.

Environment Minister Melissa Price. Picture: Kym Smith

Australia has urged Japan against withdrawing from the Inter­national Whaling Commission in order to resume commercial whaling, saying it should end its “so-called ‘scientific’ whaling”.

Japan’s Kyodo news agency yesterday reported that Tokyo would withdraw from the IWC in a bid to restart commercial whaling, after the commission in September ruled it could not continue the activity.

At the time, Vice-Minister for Fisheries Masaaki Taniai responded by saying Tokyo would “undertake a fundamental re­assessment of its position” as a member of the IWC.

Environment Minister Melissa Price said Australia opposed Japan’s withdrawal. “The government is aware of reports that Japan is considering withdrawing from the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling and its decision-making body, the IWC,” she said.

“While we would strongly prefer Japan to remain a party to the convention and a member of the commission, the decision to withdraw is a matter for Japan.”

Ms Price said Australia was committed to the commission, which played a “crucial role” in whale conservation and the management of whaling. “We will continue to work through the commission to conserve whales, and remain opposed to all forms of commercial and so-called ‘scientific’ whaling,” she said.

Opposition environment spokesman Tony Burke said the government should seek legal ­advice over Japan’s withdrawal.

“Our bilateral relationship with Japan is one of our closest and most significant, repre­sented through deep engagement economically, through trade, defence, security ties and shared democratic ideals,” Mr Burke and ­opposition legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus said.

“This does not mean we will agree on all issues, and Labor has consistently campaigned against Japanese whaling.”

Australia, the EU and the US voted against Japan’s motion to end the global moratorium on commercial whaling at the commission in September.