1. The Whaling Regime

2. Whaling Whale Products: Whaling History oil whalebone and baleen meat
Vikings and Basques
18th century: US and Britain largest whaling fleets
Early 20th century: tragedy of the commons

3. The International Whaling Commission (IWC)
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (1946)
-“to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry…”
Established the IWC
-whaling and non-whaling states can be members;
-15 member states until about the 1970s
-Schedule: regulates global catch quotas; length of whaling season; partial moratoriums.
- 3/4 majority to amend the Schedule
-members can lodge and objection to amendments in the Schedule and thereby not be bound by these amendments

4. Effect of IWC

5. From Management to Conservation
Depleted whale stocks
US, New Zeeland stopped whaling
NGO campaign against whaling
1972: Call for moratorium on commercial whaling

6. US Unilateralism
The Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen’s Protective Act (1971)
- Import restrictions on international fishing operations which diminish the effectiveness of an international fishery conservation program
Secretary of Commerce certifies that a state is diminishing the effectiveness of the IWC
1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act
Peru, Chile, South Korea, and Taiwan: Non IWC members certified under the Pelly amendment

7. US Multilateralism
Increase IWC participation of whaling states close to the US: Peru, Chile, South Korea, Taiwan..
Increase IWC participation of non-whaling states: Seychelles, Antigua and Barbuda; Oman, Kenya, Egypt…
Convert pro-whaling states: Argentina, Uruguay, Australia…

8. Commercial Whaling Moratorium
Adopted in 1982;in effect since ;
Japan, Peru, Norway, Russia objected
All but Norway withdrew objection
Iceland left IWC in 1993
Aboriginal whaling allowed: US (45), Russia (170), Greenland (127), St. Vincent & Grenadines(3)

9. Norway Objected the Moratorium
1987-temporary halt on commercial whaling;
Research to assess NE Atlantic minke whale stock (approx. 86,700 animals). IWC Scientific Committee confirmed Minke whales can be harvested sustainably;
Certified under Pelly Amendment (4 times)
Resumed whaling 1993
549 northern minkes 2001;
674 northern minkes 2002;

10. Iceland Withdrew in 1992, but did not whale since
Back in the IWC in 2001
Entered objection to the moratorium
State intent to resume whaling in 2006

11. Japan Hunts whales for scientific purposes Sells meat on the market
400 minke annually in the Antarctic; some endangered whales (e.g. 50 sei whales)
Sells meat on the market

12. Estimates of Whale Stock

13. Future of the Moratorium?
Irish proposal (1998) – allow whaling only in exclusive economic zones (not in deep ocean); only for domestic consumption
2003 IWC resolution: 25:20 for conservation and against lifting the ban