There's been plenty of action this summer in the Southern Ocean. But now an interesting development. The Japanese harpoon whaling vessel, Yushin Maru No. 3, has entered the 12 nautical mile limit of Australian territorial waters off Macquarie Island. This is despite a 2008 High Court ruling prohibiting these Japanese vessels from Australian waters. Of course, the Australian Government has failed to send a vessel to enforce this ruling or even monitor this season's cull in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. They have instead told Tokyo they are "not welcome".

Of note is that the inscribed area of Macquarie Island is the 12 nautical mile boundary. I'm wondering what the legal implications for Japan from the World Heritage Convention are on this? Perhaps Japan would argue the vessel, despite being State sponsored, is a private vessel?