The judge’s ruling was applied to a wildlife sanctuary claimed by the Australian government. However, the claim by Australia is not recognized by Japan. It looks unlikely that Japan will put a halt to its whale-hunting trip.
However, it could strain the relationship between both Japan and Australia if the Japanese whalers ignore the ban issued by the judge and the Australian government is compelled to enforce it. Previously, the Japanese government said it will ignore an injunction in the case if it was granted.
The injunction was sought in Australia’s Federal Court by Human Society International. It would be against the Japanese company Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd. The injunction would be to stop whaling within Australia’s exclusive economic zone with extends 200 nautical miles which is from territory declared in Antarctica by Australia and in the south Pacific.
The company operates the ships that are used by Japan’s Institute of Cetacaen Research to conduct the animal hunts. It is under a program that the organization had insisted is for scientific purposes.
Critics say otherwise that it is a loophole to hunt whales.
“The court orders that the respondent be restrained from killing, injuring, taking or interfering with any Antarctic minke whale, fin whale or humpback whale in the Australian whale sanctuary, or treating or possessing any such whale killed or taken in the Australian whale sanctuary,” said James Allsop, the Federal Court judge in the ruling.
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