CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The same year Norway became the only state in the world to resume commercial whaling, on the grounds that they had objected to, and thus opted out, of the moratorium.

Detailed explanation-2: -Canada, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, the United States and the Danish dependencies of the Faroe Islands and Greenland continue to hunt in the 21st century. Countries that support commercial whaling, notably Iceland, Japan, and Norway, wish to lift the IWC moratorium on certain whale stocks for hunting.

Detailed explanation-3: -Japan claims that the ban goes against the original principles of the ICRW and that scientific evidence does not support the claim that whales are endangered. According to Japan, the majority of whale stocks have recovered, and Japan does not hunt endangered species of whales.

Detailed explanation-4: -After 31 years, Japan has officially resumed commercial whaling.

Detailed explanation-5: -In 1951, Japan acceded to the International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW), concluded to ‘provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry.