The Japanese governmenta is writing a new law that can ensure the continuance of commercial whaling

During the Diet session open until December 9th, the Japanese government is aiming to rewrite the 2017 research whaling law into a new law that can ensure the continuance of commercial whaling.

Japan has reopened commercial whaling upon withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission, the only international body managing cetaceans and whaling. Rejoining the organization as an observer is not enough to meet the requirement set by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

It is also problematic that the government is announcing to the whalers the catch limit based on the calculation still not fully in accordance with the RMP determined by the IWC.

Cetaceans are large-type marine mammals without borders, and are not in Japan’s possession. In order to truly carry out “scientific” and “sustainable” practices, we must first comply with international law.

At the same time, we must not allow the government to encourage an unrealistic commercial supply of whale meat through their subsidies, demand-creating campaigns, or expansion of whale meat use in school lunches.