IWC to meet on return to commercial whaling.........

In 1986 the IWC banned commercial whaling so that stocks may recover from the open hunting of previous decades. Though whaling was first recorded in 3,000 BCE, coastal communities have carried out sustenance whaling and the harvesting of beached whales, it was not until the 17th Century that whaling fleets emerged. During the 18th and 19th Centuries began the competitive national whaling industries and the introduction of the factory ships along with the concept of whale harvesting in the early 20th century.

By the late 1930's more than 50,000 whales were killed annually and during the middle of the 1900's stocks were unable to replenish themselves and a small collapse in the industry was seen.

In 1986, when the IWC banned international whaling, it allowed for subsistence whaling to continue under regulations, this is carried out by US, Canada, Australia, Indonesia, Faroe Islands, Russia and more. Norway and Iceland, carry out commercial whaling through placing an objection on an IWC regulation. Japan also hunt whales under scientific research, though they sell the whale meat on the market. (This is not the point for discussion).

The IWC will meet again in April, and it looks as though the ban on commercial whaling may be lifted. Surprising support for this ban has come from NZ, the hope from them is that under commercial whaling, stricter quotas may be enforced in the end lessening the number of whales caught.

The other side of the coin is that the lifting of the ban may well see more countries recommence whaling, therefore increasing the number of vessels out there and the number of whale species targeted and caught.

Next week I am attending the Consortium meeting in NZ, I would love to hear your thoughts on the pro's and cons of return to commercial whaling.......

1) Will it lessen the impact of whaling that continues today?
2) Have certain species regained a sustainable population?


We have to take this subject as non-emotive, this is not about whales are cute and dolphins smile, this is about the very future of this species and needs to be approached methodically......................... I have a perfect world and a realistic world, my perfect world - there would be no whaling, no shark fining or fishing, my realistic world, you will never completely stop these actions so we have to do our best to minimize them and to protect the species.

After the recent letdown and failure of protection on Bluefin Tuna, Shark species and corals to name but a few, the future of conservation looks shaky.