Japan presents scientist as expert witness in whaling trial at ICJ

Physiologist Lars Walloe supported Japan’s claims that their whaling practices are actually part of scientific research as he gave his expert testimony in the ongoing case at the International Court of Justice at The Hague. Despite Australia’s continued questioning of his credibility, the scientist remained adamant on his stand that the program is science-based.

The professor from Oslo University testified that Japan’s JARPA research program falls under the 1946 whaling convention and that it is a legitimate claim and process since their studies have allowed them to determine “critical information” about the Antartic’s ecosystem, which has been undergoing many changes in the past few years. Regarding Canberra’s claims in their presentation last week that Japan doesn’t need to kill the whales to do that kind of research, Walloe says it is theoretically possible to get that information from biopsy sampling. But it is easier and more efficient to get the generic sample by killing them.

Australia’s expert witness US mathematician Marc Mangel testified last week that in order to examine the ageing of the whales, the method is indeed legal since it requires the examination of ear plugs. Walloe concurs that the program needs to know the age of the whales in order to find out growth rates, age at sexual maturity and mortality rates. He also referred to an article in the Australian Antarctic Division website entitled “Data mining enhances scientific knowledge” to refute Australia’s claims that Japan’s research was never about scientific research but just “a heap of body parts taken from a large number of dead whales”.

Australian solicitor-general Justin Gleeson SC pointed to the credibility of Walloe, since Japan accorded him the Order of the Rising Sun in 2009 for supporting the country’s fisheries policy. But he defended himself by saying he has also been an expert witness for other countries like Russia, Denmark and the United States. The ICJ hearing will wrap up by July 16, with a decision not expected to arrive anytime soon.