The Australian Marine Conservation Society is calling on the Australian Government to seek an immediate injunction through the international courts to bring an end to the Government of Japan's whaling in the Southern Ocean. An injunction against the whalers would also end the clashes between whaling and anti-whaling vessels that resulted in yesterday's collision between the protest vessel the Ady Gil and the Japanese whaling vessel the Shonan Maru 2. 

"Diplomacy has failed to end Japan's so-called 'scientific' whaling program which has killed more than 9000 Antarctic minke and fin whales under the guise of research. The Australian Government must now seek an immediate injunction against the whalers through the international courts," said Darren Kindleysides, Director of the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

International lawyers have demonstrated that Japan's 'scientific' whaling breaks several international laws and treaties and that there is a case for Japan to answer if a country were to challenge them through the international courts. 

There is still time for the Australian government to use international law to halt the current whaling season. 'Provisional Measures' could be sought through either the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea or the International Court of Justice that would end Japan's whaling within a matter of weeks.

"The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea can be called upon to issue an injunction to stop the Japanese whalers. The Tribunal could issue an injunction in as little as 14 days which would halt this season's whale hunt and bring an end to the dangerous escalation in the conflict between the whalers and the protest vessels. Australia needs to step up to the plate to seek that injunction," said Kindleysides.

"If the sham that is so-called 'scientific' whaling is to be ended once and for all the whaling dispute must be taken from the high seas to the high courts. The responsibility for challenging Japan's whaling and ensuring international law is enforced rests with government and should not be left to protest organisations. The Australian Government must make good on it's election promises to take Japan to the international courts." Kindleysides concluded.

Media Contact
Darren Kindleysides, Director, AMCS.  07 3393 5811 or 0422 396 077.