Whalers move back into Australian waters

[Barrett808]

The Japanese whaling fleet has moved back into Australian territorial waters, sparking a call from the anti-whaling protest ship, Steve Irwin, for the Australian government to move in.

The captain of the Steve Irwin, Paul Watson, says the Japanese have moved back into the "Australian economic zone" but have not taken any whales for the past four days.

"We've been chasing them for four days and they have just been running, covering six to seven hundred miles so far," Capt Watson told AAP.

"For some reason they have moved back into the Australian economic zone and there are Australian federal court orders stating that whaling is prohibited in this area.

"How can you have a court order forbidding whaling and yet not enforce it?"

(more)

http://news.smh.com.au/whalers-move-back-into-australian-waters/20080226-1utc.html

[kristopher]

1. Because the Australian claim has no international recognition

It is like me claiming that I own DU. I can make the claim, that doesn't mean it has a basis in the law. Maritime law is pretty clear on what constitutes valid claim to maritime resources, and the Aussie claim is well outside those boundaries.

If you want to know more use the search term "law of the sea treaty".