Conservationist groups are campaigning against an appeal from Japan to resume small-scale commercial whaling near its coasts and are urging all countries to oppose the move.

The annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting has begun in Jersey that is one of the Channel Islands, today. The commission meeting is usually divided between two groups of countries, one seeing Wales as any other wild animal while others see whales as intrinsically special creatures that should not be harmed. Japan is likely to appeal for permission to conduct coastal whaling in the North Pacific.

Australia has been against allowing whaling and has also challenged Japan in international forums. Darren Kindleysides from the Australian Marine Conservation Society has urged all nations not to vote with Japan due to a sympathy wave in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that ht the country earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Environement Minister Tony Burke has indicated he won't let Japan's recent tsunami misfortune affect Australia's tough stance on the issue. He said that it is possible to have a strong anti-whaling stance and humanitarian response to Japan's tsunami disaster at the same time.