Whale Wars How the Institute of Cetacean Research Works 1 / 4 AP Photo /Itsuo Inouye In the Animal Planet series " Whale Wars ," the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society sails into the Antarctic in search of a Japanese whaling fleet . The environmental group is out to stop the five-vessel fleet from killing whales , claiming that it's illegal poaching . However, the Japanese ships don't look like those belonging to a renegade band of whale pirates. Instead, they're emblazoned with the word "research" across their sides . The Japanese government even supports the venture through its Ministry of Agriculture , Forestry and Fisheries . The whaling fleet is operated, in fact , through the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR ) in Tokyo . Formed in 1987, a year after the moratorium on commercial whaling went into effect, the ICR kills a set quota of whales each year to study them. Anti-whaling governments , such as Australia , and environmental groups have been vehemently opposed to the ICR since its formation ; they claim that the ICR is a cover for Japan slaughtering whales for commercial profit . Japanese fishermen have killed whales for centuries , both for their oil and meat . Following Word War II , Japan 's whaling industry grew exponentially , as the mammals provided a cheaper source of protein amid wartime scarcity. Commercial whaling left various species , including the humpback , teetering on the brink of extinction . Consequently, the International Whaling Commission (IWC ) was created in 1946, and an official ban on commercial whaling was enacted in 1986. The ICR exists due to its provisions included in the commercial ban . Specifically, the IWC allows whaling when conducted for scientific research. Whale meat ends up on the Japanese market because by law , no whale research byproducts can be thrown away. Profits from the meat further fund the ICR . Sound fishy? As always, there are two sides to every story ; therefore, a deeper dive into the ICR research agenda should shed some light on Japan 's motives .