Japan's withdrawal from the International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling

On 5 February, Solène Guggisberg published a blog post on the Nereus program website on the legal implications of Japan’s withdrawal from the International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) and hence of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Aiming at a general audience, she examines some legal questions which arise out of Japan's decision. 

Japan is entitled, under the ICRW, to withdraw from this treaty with effect on 30 June 2019, and will consequently stop being bound by its provisions. However, it will remain bound by other relevant obligations of international law. In particular, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, while Japan can catch whales in its exclusive economic zone, it must manage the stocks on a scientific basis in order to avoid over-exploitation. Japan will also remain under the obligation to cooperate, for conservation purposes, with other States through the IWC, the forum it just left.

Read the full blog post.