The confidentiality rules of the IWC's Scientific Committee have been openly flouted by four members who wrote a paper in the most recent issue of Nature criticizing Japan's new research program. Details of the new JARPA II program were supposed to remain confidential until the beginning of the plenary meeting on 20 June.

While confidential information has been leaked to the media in the past, this is the first time the Committee's rules have been breached so blatantly. The four "Invited Participants" of the Scientific Committee - Nicholas Gales, Toshio Kasuya, Phillip Clapham and Robert Brownell Jr. - are all active opponents of whaling and face possible censure for breaking Rule E.5.(b).

Japanese officials are critical of Nature for conspiring with the breaking of IWC rules. Some consider that Nature has become politicized since it will now only publish papers on Japan's whale research program that are critical. The latest paper was accepted for publication even though it fails to satisfy basic requirements for scientific honesty.

The paper, "Japan's whaling plan under scrutiny", published on 16 June, is most notable for its omissions. It fails to acknowledge that Japan's annual research plans are submitted to the Scientific Committee, that Japan takes account of Committee suggestions in implementing its research, and that its work is valued by many Committee members. Instead the authors imply that Japan acts in a vacuum, unilaterally setting harvests for non-scientific purposes. The paper mischaracterizes the scientific advantages of lethal research while completely omitting any mention of associated non-lethal research. It also claims that "few" scientific papers have resulted from JARPA I whereas over 150 have been produced. The authors even boycotted a special meeting to discuss these results.

Ironically, the authors, two of whom collaborate closely with animal rights group IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare), argue that it is a "tragedy" for scientists to be labeled as either pro- or anti-whalers. They then go on to misrepresent the role and basis of whale sanctuaries and attack the right of countries to conduct scientific research whaling.

Eugene Lapointe, President of IMWC, said: "This paper should be regarded as political advocacy rather than serious science. Unfortunately, the authors have misused their privileged position as members of the Scientific Committee to attack Japan's research program. This politicizes the Scientific Committee and compromises its independence."