Compiled by Sara Yin
Landmark ruling to stop whaling
January 15 - The Federal Court of Australia ordered a Japanese company to stop whaling research within Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone, which overlaps with Antarctica. The decision marks the first time the Japanese whalers have been taken to court and the ruling confirms the hunt is illegal.
Japanese whaling company Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha has a permit from the Japanese government to kill up to 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales in Antarctica. Based on records of previous hunts, roughly 90 per cent of these whales are killed in the Australian Whale Sanctuary. However, some experts expressed doubts as to whether the Australian government would enforce the decision.
Japan is Australia's second biggest trading partner and the two governments have so far managed to avoid a confrontation over whaling.
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