Australian Embassy, Tokyo

What is Australia's policy on whaling?

Australia is strongly opposed to all commercial and lethal so-called scientific whaling. Australia firmly believes there is no credible scientific justification for the killing of whales.

The Australian Government is actively seeking to end commercial and so-called scientific whaling. Australia plays a constructive role in the international efforts to convince all whaling countries, including Japan, Norway and Iceland, to stop whaling. Australia and Japan are members of the Small Working Group on the Future of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), a group that is working to find a consensus solution to the main issues facing the IWC. Australia also would like the IWC to change to incorporate modern oceans governance standards, and to play a central role in international whale conservation efforts. The Australian Government has submitted a new proposal to the IWC to advance Australia's conservation agenda in negotiations on the future of whaling.

http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/species/cetaceans/pubs/australian-proposal-whaling.pdf

Australia believes it is possible to use modern non-lethal research techniques, including genetic and molecular techniques, satellite tags, acoustic methods and aerial surveys to understand more about whales. To do this important research, Australia is leading a five-year cooperative international research program, the Southern Ocean Research Partnership, including twelve member nations of the International Whaling Commission. We would welcome the participation of additional nations, including Japan, in the Partnership.

For more information on Australia's research proposals, please click on the following headings:

• Whale conservation and management: A future for the IWC
• IWC endorses the Southern Ocean Research Partnership
• $1.5 million for whale conservation in the IWC
• Australian research leads fight against whaling
• $6.15 million to kick-start non-lethal whale research

Does Australia support violent protest activity against whaling by groups such as the Sea Shepherd?

No. While Australia recognises the right to peaceful protest, Australia does not support violent protest activity. We do not support any protest activity that is illegal or could cause injury to anyone on the high seas. The Australian Government strongly condemns any activity that is illegal, dangerous or violent and urges all parties operating in the Southern Ocean to respect and implement the paramount principle of safety of life at sea and all laws and conventions governing conduct at sea. Dangerous and confrontational methods such as those pursued by Sea Shepherd are absolutely inappropriate. They are not the way to resolve differences over whaling, and they will not lead to a lasting solution.

The Sea Shepherd is not an Australian organisation. It is an American organisation. Its ship "Steve Irwin" is registered in The Netherlands and its captain is Canadian. Its other ship "Bob Barker" is not registered in Australia and its former vessel "Ady Gil" was registered in New Zealand.

In December 2009, Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Stephen Smith MP, in conjunction with his counterparts from The Netherlands and New Zealand, issued a strong joint statement calling for responsible behaviour by all parties in the Southern Ocean. For the full statement, please click on the following link: http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2009/fa-s091207.html

What is Australia's response to the 6 January 2010 collision between a Japanese whaling vessel and a Sea Shepherd protest vessel?

While the Australian Government is strenuously opposed to whaling, we are also strenuously opposed to violence at sea.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has completed a fact finding report into the collision between the anti whaling protest vessel Ady Gil and the Japanese harpoon vessel, Shonan Maru No. 2 that occurred in the Southern Ocean on 6 January. Both parties to the collision were given the opportunity to provide information to AMSA. No firm conclusions could be drawn from the evidence reviewed. The investigation established that the incident occurred outside of Australia's territorial sea and did not involve any Australian flagged vessel. The flag states of the vessels, New Zealand and Japan, have exclusive jurisdiction over their vessels in relation to incidents of this kind.

The Southern Ocean is a remote and inhospitable region where the risk of adverse incidents is high and the capacity for rescue or assistance is low. The Australian Government has repeatedly called upon all parties to ensure that safety at sea is the highest priority.

Why is Australia allowing the Steve Irwin to refuel in an Australian port?

The Steve Irwin, or any other vessel, is able to access Australian ports in accordance with Australia's domestic laws. On 8 January 2009, Acting Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard stated publicly that Australia would allow the Steve Irwin entry to port on the grounds that there was no domestic legal basis for the Government to prevent the vessel from entering an Australian port.

Is Australia focusing only on Japan in its anti-whaling campaign?

Australia opposes all commercial and lethal 'scientific' whaling, including that conducted by Japan, Iceland and Norway.

Australia is also concerned about Japan's activities because Japan conducts the largest whaling operations in the world. Japan has been increasing its targeted quota of whales over recent years, and Japan's labelling of the hunting of whales as 'scientific' is misleading.

Why does Australia continue to oppose whaling, when some people say that minke whales are increasing in population?

There is no international agreement on the numbers of minke whales in the Southern Ocean. The IWC's population surveys indicate that the number of minke whales in the Southern Ocean is drastically decreasing. It is not known whether this is because of a real and severe decrease in the population, or if it is due to changes in the survey methodology and sea ice conditions. However, since 1987, Japan has increased its targets for taking of Southern Hemisphere minke whales from approximately 300 whales in 1987, to 935 whales in the current Antarctic research program.

Many other species of whale that are targeted by whaling nations are acknowledged to be endangered or threatened, such as fin whales, sperm whales and populations of humpback whales.

There is no credible scientific reason for hunting whales, whether or not they are endangered. There are research techniques available to obtain data for biological, population and management purposes which do not require whales to be killed. So Japan's lethal research program is not necessary. Additionally, the methods by which the whales are killed are inhumane. Therefore, Australia firmly believes all commercial and 'scientific' whaling, regardless of species, should be ceased.

Why does Australia continue to oppose Japan's whaling program, when Japan has announced that it will postpone the taking of humpback whales?

The Australian Government welcomes the decision by Japan not to take humpback whales this season. However, Australia opposes the killing of all whales and is still fundamentally opposed to Japan's lethal 'scientific' whaling program.

Why does Australia oppose whaling when it accepts killing of kangaroos?

There are many different species of kangaroo in Australia. Only the species which are abundant can be harvested. It is illegal to kill a kangaroo if the species is endangered or threatened. By contrast, Japan's lethal scientific whaling program targets endangered species, and species whose abundance is uncertain.

Accurate population estimates of land mammals, such as kangaroos, are easily made from aerial and ground surveys. By contrast, it is very difficult to know how many whales there are in the Southern Ocean.

Harvesting of kangaroos is strictly monitored and is done in the most humane way possible. Australia has a "Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos", to minimise the risk of suffering. Reports from whaling nations show that many whales killed in whaling operations are not killed instantaneously.

Why is Australia interfering in Japanese whaling, which is a traditional part of Japanese culture?

Australia respects Japanese culture and tradition. Up until last century, many countries, including Australia, had whaling programs, and all the products from whales - oil, bones, meat - were used for many purposes. Almost all countries have now abandoned their whaling programs. This is because they no longer need to kill whales for these products, many whale species are endangered or threatened, and whale killing methods are inhumane.

Recent NGO research has shown that the popularity of whale meat is falling in Japan. This has led to large stockpiles of unwanted whale meat. It appears that whale meat is no longer an essential part of the Japanese diet and there is no need for the hunting and killing of whales for food by Japan. Moreover, scientific research can be conducted on whales without killing them.

Are whales threatening fish stocks by eating fish? If we hunt whales, will there be more fish for humans to catch?

There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that whales affect fishing yields. Worldwide, the main cause of declining fishery yields is over-fishing. The decline in fish stocks cannot be attributed to whales. In Australia's view, a claim that killing whales will increase fisheries yields is a misleading attempt to gain support for commercial whaling.