A few stories are appearing in the Australian media including some passionate discussions from readers about the pros and cons of supporting Japanese whaling.

I would have to say if they start hunting down Migaloo the worlds only known white humpback whale - for scientific research - that would be devastating. Migaloo has become an icon for the recovery of the humpback whale population in our waters. If this whale dies to become food ...

Read the story on the ABC and the following discussions:

Japan wants Australia to help protect its whaling fleet from what it calls "environmental terrorism" as it kills humpbacks in the Southern Ocean this summer.

Japan's whaling fleet is preparing to depart for its annual scientific hunt and 50 humpback whales will be targeted for the first time.

Japan's Fisheries Agency says Australia and New Zealand should help protect the Japanese fleet and has accused environmental group Sea Shepherd of being responsible for violent confrontations in recent years.

Sea Shepherd's captain Paul Watson says his organisation is not responsible for the collisions with Japanese ships and has acted lawfully.

"Japanese whaling is illegal. They're targeting endangered species in a whale sanctuary in violation of a global moratorium on whaling," he said.

"We have the law on our side."

Discussions at:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/12/2087736.htm

The other article is from the Melbourne AGE titled:

Japanese whalers won't say if they'll spare Migaloo

Japanese whalers have refused to say if they will target white humpback whales such as Migaloo, which annually travels along the east coast of Australia, in their research slaughter this summer.

As the Japanese whaling fleet prepares to leave port and head for the Antarctic, the Japan Fisheries Agency has given a firm "no comment" to questions about white whales.

Japan, which uses a loophole in International Whaling Commission (IWC) laws to hunt almost 1,000 whales each year in the southern hemisphere, allegedly for scientific research, will target humpbacks for the first time this summer.

The ships have been given a quota of 50 humpbacks along with 50 fin whales and hundreds of the smaller minke whales this year.

Migaloo, whose Aboriginal name means White Fella, is believed to be the only completely white humpback whale in the world and is often spotted among the humpbacks which form the basis of Australia's whale-watching industry.

AAP inquiries of Japan Fisheries Agency about the fate of Migaloo and other white whales were met with "no comment".

More of this article at:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/migaloo-to-face-whalers/2007/11/12/1194766544520.html