Photograph: Kate Davidson/epa

This comes despite the clear and unambiguous conclusions of the International Whaling Commission's review process that Japan has not demonstrated the scientific need for the whaling.

It is the second time Japan has issued permits for their so-called ‘scientific’ whaling programs after independent expert panels, established by the Commission in 2015 and early this year, concluded that lethal sampling is not justified.

But despite these expert findings and recommendations, Japan has again chosen to ignore the clear and independent scientific advice and decided to continue whaling in the North Pacific.

By continuing whaling in the Southern and North Pacific oceans, Japan is unilaterally disregarding International Whaling Commission resolutions from 2014 and 2016. These resolutions request that members do not engage in so-called ‘scientific’ whaling until the full Commission has the opportunity to properly discuss and review the relevant research proposal.

Japan has now, on multiple occasions, gone against the recommendations of the International Whaling Commission, its scientific committee and the independent expert panels it has convened.

It is becoming increasingly clear that Japan is ignoring the International Court of Justice's 2014 decision on whaling in the Antarctic. The court found that contracting governments have a duty to co-operate with the International Whaling Commission and the Commission's scientific committee. The court also declared that the decision on whether the killing, taking and treating of whales is for the purposes of scientific research cannot depend simply on the issuing state's perception.

The Australian Government is resolutely committed to the International Whaling Commission's global moratorium which bans commercial whaling.

We are also concerned to learn that the Japanese parliament has made a new law that entrenches long-term funding for Japan's so-called ‘scientific’ whaling. The law further states that Japan's so-called ‘scientific’ whaling is a path to the resumption of commercial whaling.

For its part, the Australian Government will continue in its tireless efforts to put greater pressure on Japan to end its so-called ‘scientific’ whaling.

It is Australia's hope that Japan will take its duty to cooperate with the Commission and the International Court of Justice seriously, and will abide by the findings of both authorities.