There are concerns claims by prominent scientist Tim Flannery that a sustainable whale cull is possible could fuel the Japanese fight to continue its annual cull.
Professor Flannery has come under fire for suggesting the Japanese slaughter in the Southern Ocean may have no long term impact on numbers.
Australian of the Year 2007, Tim Flannery said the harvest of 935 Minke whales for scientific purposes won’t threaten the species, and we should be concentrating on other more pressing issues.
He has told News Limited, the greater concern for marine life is with the numbers of krill and small crustaceans in the ocean that are essential to the marine food chain.
Rob Nichol from Greenpeace said killing any species of whale, especially the minke, harms the ocean and the fight to stop the slaughter.
But Professor Flannery said he is pleased Japan has decided not to kill up to 50 threatened Humpback whales this year.