The country plans to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission ( ICC ) and resume commercial whaling next year , according to a report by the Kyodo news agency . The report , which was denied by a Japanese fisheries agency official , suggests that the country would abandon access to the Pacific Ocean in favour of whaling in its coastal waters and exclusive economic zone . The rumoured move would come just months after the IWC rejected Japan ’s latest bid to restart whaling operations . “The IWC has become the driving force for global whale conservation efforts in the 21st century. Australia has already criticised the proposed move , and other countries are also expected to condemn Japan .
The country plans to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission ( ICC ) and resume commercial whaling next year , according to a report by the Kyodo news agency . The report , which was denied by a Japanese fisheries agency official , suggests that the country would abandon access to the Pacific Ocean in favour of whaling in its coastal waters and exclusive economic zone . The rumoured move would come just months after the IWC rejected Japan ’s latest bid to restart whaling operations . Australia has already criticised the proposed move , and other countries are also expected to condemn Japan .