19 September 2014 | CIL Fireside Chat Series

Whaling in the Antarctic (Australia v. Japan): International Law, Science and the Environment

Introduction

On 31 March 2014, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rendered its judgment in the case concerning Whaling in the Antarctic (Australia v. Japan: New Zealand intervening). In the Judgment, the ICJ concluded that Japan violated three provisions of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) in relation to the killing, taking and treating of fin whales under the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPA II). The Court observed that while JARPA II could broadly be characterised as ‘scientific research’, the killing, taking and treating of fin whales are not for ‘purposes of scientific research’ as stated in Article VIII, paragraph 1 of the ICRW. The Court requested Japan to revoke any extant authorisation, permit or licence granted in relation to JARPA II and refrain from granting any further permits in pursuance of that programme.

This Session of the CIL Fireside Chat Series discussed the ICJ’s judgment and examined the whaling issue from environmental, scientific and international political perspectives.

Presentations

“International Law & Antarctic Whaling” by Prof Robert Beckman, Director, CIL
“The Australian Perspective” by Prof Lye Lin-Heng, Director, Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law
“Whales” by Prof Chou Loke-Ming, Department of Biological Sciences

Panelists

Professor Robert Beckman
Director, CIL
Professor Lye Lin-Heng
Director, Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law
Professor Chou Loke-Ming
Department of Biological Sciences
Professor Ryoko Nakano
Department of Japanese Studies

Hosts

Professor S Jayakumar
Professor Tommy Koh