Japanese Scientific Whaling in Antarctica: Is Australia Attempting the Impossible

Abstract

The long standing whaling controversy has reached a new level, with Australia filing proceedings against Japan in the International Court of Justice in March 2010. This paper analyses the strength of Australia’s causes of actions under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna and the Convention on Biological Diversity. It concludes that Australia is taking a large risk in launching this case due to the uncertainty of success and that this may have serious implications for the future of the International Whaling Commission and the future of whales