The World Court has ordered Japan to stop whaling operations in the Antarctic Ocean.

Australia brought the case against Japan, stating that commercial whaling in the area violates international conventions.

Japan asserted that the whaling is for scientific purposes including studying ecosystems and whale populations.

The court deemed that Japan’s whaling has no scientific basis and ordered an end to the practice.

Government officials say that Japan will follow the court’s order. But whaling ships will continue operating in the Pacific Ocean, which lies outside the scope of this decision.