At 75 years old, the IWC has never been more globally relevant. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gales, Nick
• Is Part Of: Marine policy. Volume 141(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: International Whaling Commission -- Whaling -- Cetacean conservation; Marine resources -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Fisheries -- Periodicals; Ressources marines -- Aspect économique -- Périodiques; Pêches -- Périodiques; Fisheries; Marine resources -- Economic aspects; Periodicals; 333.916405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105089
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-597X

Abstract

Abstract: Against the well known backdrop of fiercely contested debates about commercial whaling I examine the current status and relevance of the International Whaling Commission as it reaches its 75th year of operation. Japan's 2019 withdrawal from the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, Iceland's recent announcement considering ending its commercial whaling program and the dramatic pause in business as usual that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic have all changed the nature and range of tensions and challenges in the IWC. Past and current IWC successes in science and conservation are used to provide a potential pathway through the existing, often polarised, differences among the IWC member states. As commercial whaling operations continue to decline, the world's whales and dolphins face a dramatic rise in threats resulting from other human activities including fisheries, climate change and habitat degradation. The IWC has taken meaningful and effective steps to address these non-whaling threats, and is ideally placed to expand its leadership role and influence through collaborations with relevant multi-lateral agencies and conventions.