 The International Whaling Commission (IWC)
International efforts in the conservation of whales began with the establishment of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in December 1945. A response to the overfishing of whales that caused an endemic among the whale species in the 1920s, the IWC first began under the supervision of the International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW).
Because the ICRW has since become moot, the IWC stands as alone as the only universally recognized, inter-governmental agency on the regulation of whaling industry and the preservation of whales worldwide. It has only been through conservation and preservation efforts of International Whaling Commission and other whale advocacy groups that whales continue to exist, however fragilely today.
THE PURPOSE OF THE IWC
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is an international, multi-governmental organization with two main purposes:
(1) To protect the growth and conservation of all the whale populations around the world, protecting them from the threat of over-fishing, inhumane treatment, and saving them from potential extinction.
(2) To oversee all aspects of the whaling industry, establishing appropriate standards that allow for the humane hunting of whales (and other cetaceans) that provide for human consumption and use, but that which also ensures the sustainability of all whale populations worldwide.
THE IWC: A REGULATOR, NOT A WATCHDOG
The International Whaling Commission Safeguards the Interests of BOTH the Whalers and the Whales
It is important to note that the International Whaling Commission (IWC) is not an advocacy organization that seeks to stop the hunting of whales entirely. Rather, they are an international regulatory agency that creates standards that allow the whaling industry,(which is a key cornerstone of many economies around the world) to flourish for today’s world generations as well as those of the future. These standards and regulations must be analyzed and carefully crafted by the International Whaling Commission to also ensure that the whale species are protected today and conserved for tomorrow.
IWC MEMBERSHIP: From A Whalers' Club of 13 to A Commission of 88
Today, there are 88 member nations who are a part of the International Whaling Commission. The United States was one of the original thirteen members, signing on in 1948. Japan (who is considered the leader of the Whaling Industry) has been a member nation since 1951. There is “Annual Commission Meeting” every year. This two-week long event discusses the current state of the whaling industry as well as the status of the existing whale populations. Standards such as: catch limits, sanctuary areas, "open and close" seasons, and the kinds of whales that are deemed legal to catch are established and preexisting ones are reformed if necessary.
The 88 Member Countries of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) Click on the RED link to find the official IWC website
(**) Countries with special wildlife conservation offices. Click on a **country to be taken to these respective websites.
Antigua
&
Barbuda |
Argentina |
Australia** |
Austria |
Belgium |
Belize |
Benin |
Brazil |
Bulgaria |
Cambodia |
Cameroon |
| Chile |
People's Republic
of China |
Republic
of Congo |
Costa Rica |
Côte d'Ivoire |
Croatia |
Cyprus |
Czech Republic |
Denmark |
Dominica |
Dominican Republic |
| Ecuador |
Eritrea |
Estonia |
Finland |
France** |
Gabon |
The Gambia |
Germany |
Republic of Ghana |
Greece |
Grenada |
| Guatemala |
Guinea-Bissau |
Republic
of Guinea |
Hungary |
Iceland |
India |
Ireland |
Israel |
Italy |
Japan |
Kenya |
| Kiribati |
Laos |
Lithuania |
Luxembourg |
Republic
of Korea |
Mali |
Republic
of
Marshall Islands |
Mauritania |
Mexico |
Monaco |
Mongolia |
| Morroco |
Nauru |
Netherlands |
New Zealand |
Nicaragua |
Norway** |
Oman |
Republic
of Palau |
Panama |
Peru |
Poland |
| Portugal |
Romania |
Russian Federation |
San Marino |
St. Kitts
and Nevis |
St Lucia |
St. Vincent
& The
Grenadines |
Senegal |
Slovak Republic |
Slovenia |
Soloman Islands |
| South Africa |
Spain |
Suriname |
Sweden |
Switzerland |
Tanzania |
Togo |
Tuvalu |
United Kingdom** |
Uruguay |
USA |
The Scientific Committee: The Cornerstone of the IWC
There are three main committees of the IWC, but the Scientific Committee is considered the cornerstone of the entire organization. Comprised of the "200 leading whale biologists" it averages about 350 participants each year. This is an incredible feat considering that when the Committee first met in 1954, there were only 7 scientists and 7 member nations in attendance.
Today, the Scientific Committee has grown so important to the mission of the IWC that it is the first thing delegated on every agenda of the annual IWC meeting. Over the years, the participants have also included leading authorities outside the areas of whale biology.
To date, there are several sub-committees that supplement the Scientific Committee. These various subcommittees discuss the major issues concerning whales and the whaling industry. These include:
Aboriginal subsistence whaling management procedures;
Bycatch;
Assessments of nominated species/stocks;
Stock definition;
Environmental concerns;
Whalewatching;
Sanctuaries;
Special permits;
Small cetaceans.
“An Emphasis on Scientific Advice”
The Commission wrote of the necessity for a scientific component into its bylaws. It specifically states how the Commission is obligated to place an “emphasis on scientific advice”. Furthermore, its parent organization, the International Convention Regulation on Whaling (ICRW) requires that any “amendments to the Schedule shall be based on scientific findings”.
For the IWC, scientific research on the whales is critical because it gives the Committee as a whole illustrative picture on the state of the world's whale populations. It is only after this is analyzed that regulations for the whaling industry can be set. These regulations will tell whalers who what type of whale they can or cannot catch, where they can or cannot catch it, and how many they are allowed to catch in the span of a specified time. All this information is published and handed out each year.
Primary Source: International Whaling Commission, . "International Whaling Commission: IWC Information." International Whaling Commission. 29 09 2009. International Whaling Commission, Web. 11 Jan 2010. http://www.iwcoffice.org/commission/iwcmain.htm
Source (for IWC Members table): International Whaling Commission, . "International Whaling Commission: IWC Members and Commissioners." International Whaling Commission. 29 09 2009. International Whaling Commission, Web. 04 Feb 2010. http://www.iwcoffice.org/commission/members.htm.
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