Karen Kiekow's Blog
March 31, 2014
Even after the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned commercial whaling, Japan has continued to kill whales – and sell the meat for profit – by exploiting a loophole in the convention that allows countries to take whales “for purposes of scientific research.” Today’s decision finds in no uncertain terms that Japan’s hunt was NOT “for purposes of scientific research” and therefore in violation of international law and the IWC’s ban on commercial whaling.
This is a huge victory for whale conservation. The landmark ruling means that thousands of whales will no longer be slaughtered under the guise of science. It also means that whales will once again be safe in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.
