The protection of whales is back on the political agenda today with celebrations marking the first national whale day organised across the country.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare has created the event in response to the annual hunt by Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean.
It comes as pressure mounts on environment Minister Peter Garrett to keep his promise to announce a new special whaling envoy.
International Fund for Animal Welfare’s Erica Martin says 25 events will be getting underway across the nation.
“There’s everything from street fairs to school productions to gatherings on the beach to commemorate whales that have been lost in the face of Japanese Whaling.”