Australia has opposed Japan's push to end a decades-old ban on commercial whaling at an international conference in Brazil.
Australian representatives pushed to keep the ban, saying non-lethal research techniques should be used to learn more about whales.
Japan argues more information can be revealed about whales through killing them.
The Japanese representatives argue there is no longer a scientific reason for what was supposed to be a temporary measure.
The proposal faces stiff opposition from different countries.
Australian representative Anne Ruston says Australia condemns the killing of whales.
