The International Whaling Commission (IWC)

(Established 1946)

 Status

Inter-governmental Commission

Mission

Responsible for implementing the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. Its explicit objectives were, and remain, to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and the orderly development of the whaling industry.

Activities

1. The main duty of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) is to keep under review and revise as necessary the measures laid down in the Schedule to the Convention which govern the conduct of whaling throughout the world. These measures, among other things, provide for the complete protection of certain species; the designation of specified areas as whale sanctuaries; the setting of limits on the maximum numbers of whales which may be taken in any one season; the prescription of open and closed seasons and areas for whaling; the provision of limits on the size of whales which may be killed; and restrictions on the capture of suckling calves and female whales accompanied by calves. The Commission can also require compilation of catch reports and other statistical and biological records. In addition, the Commission encourages, coordinates and funds whale research, publishes the results of these and other scientific research and promotes studies into related matters such as the humaneness of the killing operations.

2. Membership of the IWC is open to any country which formally adheres to the 1946 Convention. Each contracting party is represented by a Commissioner, who may be assisted by experts and advisers. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman are elected from among the Commissioners and usually serve for three years. There are currently 51 members of the IWC.

3. To assist in its work, the Commission has three committees: Scientific, Technical and, Finance and Administration. The Technical Committee has two standing sub-committees, which deal with Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling and with Infractions of IWC regulations. Commissioners may opt for their countries to be represented on the Scientific and Technical Committees and most choose to do so. There are also a number of Working Groups, set up as required, to look at specific issues.

4. Because of uncertainties in the scientific analyses and therefore the precise status of the various whale stocks, the IWC decided at its meeting in 1982 that there should be a pause in commercial whaling on all whale stocks from 1985/86. A revised management procedure has been developed subsequently, which the Commission accepted and endorsed in 1994 but as yet to implement. This balances the somewhat conflicting requirements to ensure that the risk to individual stocks is not seriously increased, while allowing the highest continuing need. Norway lodged a formal objection to the zero catch limits set in 1985/86 and is thereby not bound by them. It has recently resumed whaling, setting its own catch limits on the basis of the Commission’s Management Procedure. The pause in commercial whaling does not affect aboriginal subsistence whaling which is permitted from Denmark (Greenland, fin and minke whales), the Russian Federation (Siberia, Gray and bowhead whales), St Vincent and The Grenadines (humpback whales) and the USA (Alaska, bowhead and occasionally Gray whales).

Scientific Research

1. As part of their response to the decision for a pause in commercial whaling, some member governments have implemented major research programmes including the sampling of whales caught under special permits which the Convention allows them to grant. Japan is taking limited numbers of minke whales each year in both the Antarctic and the North Pacific under this provision.

2. The Commission also sponsors and promotes international research. A major undertaking has been a series of ship surveys of the Antarctic minke whale stocks. Other funded research includes work on new techniques such as acoustic and satellite/radio tracking of whales, genetic analysis of populations and the development of a major catches and sightings database and associated abundance estimation software.

3. The Scientific Committee is concentrating on a ‘Comprehensive Assessment’ of whale stocks, defined as an in-depth evaluation of the status of the stocks in the light of management objectives. It is also responding to the increasing priority afforded by the Commission to work to assess the effects on cetaceans of environmental change such as global warming and pollution, and whale watching activities.

United Kingdom Interests

Lead Department

Other Interested Departments and Organisations

Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AP

Natural Environment Research Council – Sea Mammal Research Unit, c/o The British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET

Briefing and Reporting Mechanisms

Defra works closely with other government departments and with relevant non-government organisations some of whom form part of the UK delegation to the IWC. In April 1988, a consultative forum on whaling was established to advise the Government on the development of its policies on whaling and whole conservation. The forum comprises government official and representatives of organisations interested in the conservation of whales.

Perspective

The UK ceased commercial whaling in 1963 and all whaling is banned throughout the UK 200 mile limit. The UK has taken a strong lead at the IWC in promoting the conservation of whales. The UK believes there is no justification for any whaling other than subsistence whaling by indigenous people, and is seeking a permanent ban on all other whaling. The UK also seeks to improve the humaneness of existing whaling operations, to improve the conservation of small cetaceans and to ensure that a full account is taken of environmental impacts on cetaceans.