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Campaigning at the International Whaling Commission

Keep the whaling ban in place

What does the International Whaling Commission do?

The IWC is the decision making body of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. The various governments that are members of the IWC make their decisions through its various meetings and committees, using the IWC secretariat to help manage their discussions and decision making.

The IWC website states that, 'The main duty of the IWC is to keep under review and revise as necessary the measures laid down in the Schedule to the Convention which govern the conduct of whaling throughout the world.'

How does WDC work with the IWC?

WDC attends the meeting to provide scientific, legal and conservation expertise to government delegates. We work with member nations to equip them with the knowledge and evidence they need to make informed decisions. WDC scientists also take part in research projects on behalf of the IWC, such as in Antarctica.

IWC meeting in Brazil

Which countries are members of the IWC?

The IWC: we've achieved a lot together

Keeping the ban in place: Despite many attempts by the whalers to overturn the moratorium (ban), WDC and other groups have helped ensure commercial whaling has not returned.

Making conservation a priority: Over the years, WDC has helped the IWC has to evolve from simply a meeting of whaling countries, to recognising and tackling a wide range of other related issues that impact whales, from climate change to pollution.

Exposing the whalers: Despite the moratorium, hundreds of whales are still hunted each year. WDC works to expose the horror behind these kills and keep the pressure on the whalers to cease these cruel hunts.

Latest Campaign News

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Will Japan leave the International Whaling Commission?

Every now and again whaling interests in Japan call on their government to leave the International Whaling Commission (IWC, the body that regulates whaling). ‘JEXIT’...

No EU-Japan trade agreement unless Japan stops whaling!

When we launched our campaign in March 2016, calling on the EU to make whaling a deal breaker in the negotiations with Japan on a...

Norwegian government minister donates huge sum to help increase falling whale meat sales

Norwegian fisheries minister, Harald Nesvik, has donated half a million kroner (around £46k) to support marketing of minke whale meat in Norway in an attempt...

Japan's minke whale hunt season starts under cloud of controversy

Japan’s highly controversial whaling season in the Antarctic has begun again with hunting vessels leaving the western Japanese port of Shimonoseki today. Their mission is...