Institute of Cetacean Research

The Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR, 日本鯨類研究所, Nihon Geirui Kenkyūjo) is a research organization specializing in the "biological and social sciences related to whales".

The Institute of Cetacean Research
日本鯨類研究所
AbbreviationICR
Predecessor
  • Nakabe Scientific Research Centre (1941-1947)
  • Whales Research Institute (1947-1987)
FormationOctober 1987
HeadquartersChūō, Tokyo, Japan
Director General
Dr. Yoshihiro Fujise
Parent organization
Japan Fisheries Agency
Websiteicrwhale.org

In the past, it killed several hundred whales per year in the name of its 'research', the validity and necessity of which has been called into question. Among its activities, the ICR also used to sell "whale research byproducts" commercially, which environmental groups denounced as commercial whaling in disguise, which is banned by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). In March 2014, the International Court of Justice formally ruled that the ICR's whaling program was not for scientific purposes, as claimed, and ordered Japan to immediately cease its operation.

In 2019, the Japanese government resumed commercial whaling, and, in March 2020, the ICR ended its sale of "whale research byproducts", claiming that the institute would only carry out non-lethal research moving forward.

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