1. Whaling "Whale Hunting” Objectives: 1.Describe the function of the "International Whaling Commission". 2.Discuss the history and future of whaling and its impact on the marine environment

2. History Exploitation and overfishing of whales began in the 1600s. hunted for their blubber (used for its oil), meat, and baleen.

3. History 1800s - Whaling efforts increased after the invention of the fast steamship and explosive harpoon. 1900s - intensive whaling led to the near extermination of most species of great whales – most of these species are now endangered (humpback)

4. International Whaling Commission (IWC) – voluntary association of some countries established in 1946 – attempt to regulate whale hunting to stop overfishing – set quotas; but difficult to enforce because some whaling nations did not belong to the IWC or accept low quotas – all commercial whaling of great whales was banned by the IWC in 1985

5. International Whaling Commission (IWC) – some countries continued to whale anyway – IWC attempted to establish a sanctuary in Antartica in 1994 (main feeding ground for 80% of the great whales)

6. International Whaling Commission (IWC) – some countries ignored (mainly Japan and Norway) and continued to whale anyway – today whale numbers are coming back up; though some scientists believe that certain species may never fully recover