The whaling wars between Australia and Japan continue in public hearings in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Australia will present to the court that Japan's scientific research program is only a front for commercial whaling. Japan plans to catch 1,000 whales every year and it is willing to exert its right to research.

Commercial whaling has been banned in 1986. It was Australia who complained about Japan's whaling practices and took the case to a top UN court in 2010.

The first oral argument at the public hearing started on Wednesday. For three days Australia had the floor and proceeded to build a case against Japan whose whaling activities are "dangerous" to the rest of the whale population.

Japan is set to take the floor next Tuesday and proceed to make its counter arguments for three days. After an intervention from New Zealand, the case between Japan and Australia is scheduled to wrap up on July 16. A court ruling is not expected for several months.

The whaling fleet of Japan usually heads to the Southern Ocean during the months of November and December to catch fin whales and minke whales. The Japanese whalers have to meet a quota of whales for "research purposes". Whale meat is sold in commercial markets.

During the last few years, whalers have less catches because of anti-whaling activists and their disruption techniques. Australia stands by its allegations that Japan's scientific program violates international laws. Japan's whaling has nothing to do with conserving marine life. Australia says Japan's research program has killed more than 10,000 whales.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus represents Australia and told the court about the country's views on whaling. Australia is strongly against commercial and this includes Japan's scientific whale hunting. The country wants Japan to stop once and for all.

In Tokyo, the annual whaling activity is done for cultural reasons. It also states that Japan has a scientific whaling program abiding by the rules of the convention and treaty. Japan says whaling is sustainable and their research can lead governments to re-examine the commercial ban on whaling in the future.

New Zealand supports Australia in the fight against Japan's whaling activities.