Southern Ocean Violence Must Stop

13 February 07

Southern Ocean Violence Must Stop

The violent and unlawful deaths of hundreds of whales occurring now in the Southern Ocean could have been prevented, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

“While protesters and whalers clash, Japan’s “scientific” whaling program has already inflicted prolonged painful deaths on hundreds of whales in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary,” said Darren Kindleysides, IFAW Campaigns Manager.

“Few whales die instantly by the harpoon - death can take up to half an hour and can involve drowning as the whale is held underwater.

“This is a blatant violation of international law and could have been prevented if anti-whaling governments had taken action through the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS),” Mr Kindleysides said.

Legal opinion obtained by IFAW demonstrates that anti-whaling governments like New Zealand and Australia have firm legal arguments to request Provisional Measures - effectively an injunction that could halt the program within two weeks of an application being lodged with the tribunal.

“In the twenty years of so-called scientific research, Japan has killed almost 10,000 whales.

“Over the next two years, Japan intends to hunt an additional 40 fin whales and 50 humpback whales – a significant proportion of already fragile populations. It is also a potential threat to Australia’s thriving 300 million dollar whale watching industry,” Mr Kindleysides said.

IFAW urges the Australian Government to call on the Japanese Government to observe international law and cease killing whales in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary.

IFAW opposes whaling on the grounds of cruelty and encourages responsible whale watching around the world as a humane and sustainable alternative to whale hunting. To learn more, visit www.ifaw.org today.

ENDS

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