Activists to battle on after Japan whaling court victory

In December 2012, an appeals court also issued an injunction, but Sea Shepherd continued to obstruct Japan’s whaling fleets.

Japan’s Institute of Cetacean Research and Kyodo Senpaku, which conduct the nation’s whale hunts, say they reached a mediation agreement with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and its founder Paul Watson.

The parties can not approach the research vessels any closer than 500 yards on the open sea and SSCS can not provide funds to facilitate attacks by other Sea Shepherd entities.

Jeff Hansen, managing director of Sea Shepherd Australia, told the BBC the United States ruling would “absolutely not” affect its own operations.

The stipulated permanent injunction and judgment formally concludes the legal action that was initiated in 2011.

However, the settlement between the US-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Japan’s whaling body is unlikely to end the dispute as operations in Antarctic waters are mostly carried out by Sea Shepherd Australia, which does not come under the ruling.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries also applauded the ruling, with Yuki Morita, of the Whaling Division, saying, “If this agreement leads to greater safety for Japan’s research vessels, then we welcome it”.

The hunt was the first since the global court of justice ruled in 2014 that Japan’s “research whaling” program in the Southern Ocean contravened the moratorium.

But, in a move that should surprise no one who’s ever seen their logo, Sea Shepherd’s Jeff Hansen said that the group will keep upholding the Australian federal court ruling that bans the slaughter of whales in the Australian sanctuary.

The fine has not been paid, however, as it can only be enforced in Australia.

However, the country has used a loophole to continue whaling under the premise of scientific research, despite worldwide criticism.

While Japan halted commercial whaling in line with an worldwide moratorium, it has hunted whales since 1987 for what it calls scientific research purposes.

“There is this blind pursuit of whaling, despite all the worldwide opposition”, he added.

The group agreed a year ago to pay $2.55 million in damages to the Institute of Cetacean Research and Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd., the provider of vessels and crew for the whaling activities, over its continued obstruction of Japanese whaling vessels.

The Australian government has expressed its “disappointment” in Japan continuing its whaling operations in a recognised sanctuary, but Burling said the importance of bilateral trade has limited the force with which Australia has delivered its message.