Institute of Cetacean Research

Institute of Cetacean Research
日本鯨類研究所
AbbreviationICR
Predecessor
  • Nakabe Scientific Research Centre (1941–1947)
  • Whales Research Institute (1947–1987)[1]
FormationOctober 1987[1]
HeadquartersChūō, Tokyo, Japan
Director General
Dr. Yoshihiro Fujise
Parent organization
Japan Fisheries Agency
Websiteicrwhale.org

The Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR, 日本鯨類研究所, Nihon Geirui Kenkyūjo) is a Japanese research organization that claims to specialise in "biological and social sciences related to whales" but is widely believed to be a front for commercial whaling.[1]

In the past, it killed several hundred whales per year in the name of its 'research', the validity and necessity of which has been called into question.[2][3][4] Among its activities, the ICR also used to sell "whale research byproducts" commercially,[5] which environmental groups denounced as commercial whaling in disguise, which is banned by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). In March 2014, the International Court of Justice formally ruled that the ICR's whaling program was not for scientific purposes, as claimed, and ordered Japan to immediately cease its operation.[6]

In 2019, the Japanese government resumed commercial whaling, and, in March 2020, the ICR ended its sale of "whale research byproducts", claiming that the institute would only carry out non-lethal research moving forward.[5][7]

A Minke whale and her 1-year-old calf are hauled aboard the whaling factory ship, the Nisshin Maru. The image was taken by Australian customs agents in 2008. The ICR's web address is visible above the carcasses.[8]
  1. ^ a b c "Overview and Purpose". The Institute of Cetacean Research. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  2. ^ "Japanese Whalers Kill 333 Minke Whales, Many Pregnant". The Maritime Executive. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Japan admits to killing more than 300 whales in Southern Ocean". The Guardian. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Special Permit Catches Since 1985". International Whaling Commission. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  5. ^ a b "ICR : Whale research byproducts". www.icrwhale.org. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  6. ^ "Japan ordered to immediately stop whaling in Antarctic as International Court of Justice rules program was not carried out for scientific purposes". Australia: ABC News. March 31, 2014. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014.
  7. ^ Fujise, Dr. Yoshihiro (December 2020). "Foreword". Technical Reports of the Institute of Cetacean Research (TEREP-ICR) (4). Tokyo, Japan: The Institute of Cetacean Research: i. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  8. ^ Taylor, Rob (2008-02-06). "Australia releases Japanese whaling pictures". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-02-19.