The Whaling Regime

Whaling

Whale Products:– oil– whalebone and baleen– meat

Whaling History– Vikings and Basques– 18th century: US and Britain largest whaling fleets– Early 20th century: tragedy of the commons

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

Effect of IWC

From Management to Conservation

Depleted whale stocks US, New Zeeland

stopped whaling NGO campaign against

whaling 1972: Call for

moratorium on commercial whaling

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

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…

Commercial Whaling Moratorium

Adopted in 1982;in effect since 1986-87; 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)

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;

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

Japan

Hunts whales for scientific purposes

– 400 minke annually in the Antarctic; some endangered whales (e.g. 50 sei whales)

Sells meat on the market

Estimates of Whale Stock

SPECIES ORIGINAL LEVEL LATEST LEVEL YEAR PROTECTED

Blue 228,000 11,700 1967Bowhead 30,000 7,800 1935Bryde's 90,000 43,000 1986Fin 548,000 110,000 1986Gray 20,000 18,000 1935Humpbac 115,000 10,000 1966Minke 490,000 880,000 1986Right 100,000 3,200 1935Sei 256,000 54,000 1986Sperm 2,400,000 1,950,000 1985

Source: Greenpeace; Margin of error +/- 50%

Whale Population Estimates

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