Australia Battles Japan In Whaling Controversy [VIDEO]: UN Court Ban Could End Aggressive Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Attacks

The controversy over whale hunting arrives at the United Nations court stage as Australia faces off against Japan to ban Japanese whaling activities for good.

According to ABC News, despite there being a ban on commercial whaling, Japan continues its annual whaling activities with the pretense of conducting research.

"There is a ban on commercial whaling and the whaling done by Japan is patently commercial," claims Australia's agent to the court Bill Campbell. "I know that Japan argues its whaling is justified under an exception to the whaling convention relating to scientific research but our view is that Japan's whaling is not scientific research.

"You don't kill 935 whales in a year to conduct scientific research. You don't even need to kill one whale to conduct scientific research."

Despite Australia's move against Japan, which is supported by New Zealand, Japanese officials affirm their whaling activities are entirely legal and non-threatening.

"Japan's research programs have been legally conducted for the purposes of scientific research, in accordance with the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling," says Japan's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Koji Tsuruoka.

The controversy over whaling in Japan has consistently made headlines in part due to the group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, organized by Paul Watson.

The vigilantes are famous for their aggressive tactics against Japanese vessels, which include throwing stink bombs, shooting water cannons, and even ramming fishing vessels.

According to Christian Science Monitor, Watson has proclaimed to have sunk multiple whaling vessels in port, and attempted to disable the propeller on the Nisshin Maru, the largest ship in the Japanese whaling fleet.

A ban in the high court on whaling altogether might just stop such violent activities as well as save the lives of whales.