Institute of Cetacean Research
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| Abbreviation | ICR |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1947 |
| Headquarters | Japan |
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Parent organization
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Japan Fisheries Agency |
| Website | http://www.icrwhale.org |
The Institute of Cetacean Research: (ICR, 日本鯨類研究所 Nihon Geirui Kenkyūjo?) is a non-profit organisation in Japan which claims to be a research organization specializing in the "biological and social sciences related to whales".
Its methods include lethal sampling techniques which have been the source of international controversy over the validity and necessity of the research. Several environmental groups and governments oppose this program, claiming it to be commercial whaling in disguise, which is banned by the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
The Institute of Cetacean Research was founded in 1987. It took over from the Whales Research Institute (founded in 1947), which grew out of the Nakabe Scientific Research Centre (founded in 1941). The New Zealand-based spokesman for the group is the public relations agent, Glenn Inwood.
The Whales Research Institute conducted research based on catches from commercial whaling. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) established a moratorium on commercial whaling after 1986. The ICR was established the following year to continue the "scientific research".
Under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW), the IWC established a global ban on commercial whaling. Article VIII, Section 1 creates an exemption, however, providing that:
"... any Contracting Government may grant to any of its nationals a special permit authorizing that national to kill, take and treat whales for purposes of scientific research subject to such restrictions as to number and subject to such other conditions as [that] Government thinks fit."
Further, Section 2 states:
"Any whales taken under these special permits shall so far as practicable be processed and the proceeds shall be dealt with in accordance with directions issued by the Government by which the permit was granted."
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Wikipedia