HSI legal battle for whales
 

Evidence of Japanese whale hunts in Australian Whale Sanctuary

JARPA II Cruise Report (2005-2006)

Report and Map showing whales killed in Australian Whale Sanctuary

The bulk of the evidence against Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha comes from the Japanese Government’s own reports to the IWC on its scientific research program. The Japanese Government submits JARPA Cruise Reports and Research Plans to the International Whaling Commission for their information.

From these reports HSI has calculated that since 2000, Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha has openly and illegally killed over 1300 minke whales within the Australian Whale Sanctuary.

The Cruise Reports contain precise references to the location of the whales killed, although they generally use the euphemism “sampled” for the killing, cutting up and processing of whale. A particularly gruesome reference is made in the Cruise Report for 2001/2002: “The whale sighted as a solitary school at 66°37’S, 120°47’E (East stratum in Area IV). This whale (sample number 250) was a pregnant female with a body length 8.94m and body weight of 7.70t.Fetal body length was 46.3cm …”

The table below indicates the number of whales killed within the Australian Whale Sanctuary and the numbers expected to be killed during the 2005/2006 season.
 

Total number of whales killed and the approximate number killed within the AWS under the JARPA and JARPA II

YEAR

 Total of Antarctic minke whales killed under the JARPA and JARPA II

Approximate number of Antarctic minke whales killed within the AWS

Total of fin whales killed under the JARPA and JARPA II

Approximazte number of fin whales killed within the AWS

2000/2001

 440

65

0

0

2001/2002

 440

215

0

0

2002/2003

 440

21

0

0

2003/2004

 440

164

0

0

2004/2005

 440

20

0

0

2005/2006

 853

768

10

9

TOTAL

 3,053

1,253

10

9

In June 2005 the Japanese Government announced the Research Plan for the second phase of JARPA which started in the 2005/2006 season. Under JARPA II the overall number of minke whales killed in Antarctica will more than double to 935 a year and from 2005/2006 season the company will start hunting 10 fin whales a year. From 2007, this will increase to 50 fin whales, and 50 humpback whales will also be added to the hunt.

When they start hunting humpback whales from 2007, they will also be killed within the Australian Whale Sanctuary in Antarctica.

The humpbacks whales killed will be those that migrate along the west and east coasts of Australia each winter and may also include humpback whales from the very vulnerable populations that migrate to the South Pacific.

HSI’s evidence also includes copies of email transmissions from the Voyager Leader aboard the Australian Government vessel Aurora Australis. In 2002, the Aurora Australis encountered the Japanese whaling vessels conducting whaling operations in Antarctica.

 

For further information please contact

Humane Society International
enquiry@hsi.org.au
PO Box 439
Avalon NSW 2107
Australia
Tel: +61 (02) 9973 1728
Fax: +61 (02) 9973 1729