The news has already caused quite a bit of controversy across the world
Japan have announced that they are leaving the International Whaling Commission, meaning that they will have no limits on the number of whales it kills in its own territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
According to the BBC, a statement by Japan’s government said the IWC was not committed enough to one of its goals, of supporting sustainable commercial whaling.
Commercial whaling was banned by the IWC in 1986 after some species were driven almost to extinction.
The reaction to this news across the world has been far from positive.
In a statement, Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Environment Minister Melissa Price said they were “extremely disappointed” with Japan’s decision.
“Australia remains resolutely opposed to all forms of commercial and so-called ‘scientific’ whaling.”
New Zealand’s foreign affairs minister Winston Peters also had his say on the issue, saying that he was “disappointed” with the move, adding: “Whaling is an outdated and unnecessary practice.
For a number of years, Japan has been killing whales for what they claim was for research, but now it will hunt openly in its own waters.
