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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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Cruel 6 to 25 minute deaths of whales shot with exploding grenade harpoons revealed

On the eve of the 67th meeting of the IWC (International Whaling Commission – the global body that regulates whaling), WDC can reveal that a...

Whales and whalers – how and why WDC is fighting to keep the whaling ban

Today, representatives of the world’s governments are gathered in Florianopolis, Brazil to discuss whales, whalers and whaling. This important ten-day summit of the International Whaling...

Japan returns from whaling season with 177 ‘kills’

Japanese Newspaper Mainichi has reported that the whaling fleet has returned, reporting 177 kills in the name of ‘research’. Over the summer months, the fleet...
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Icelandic whalers breach international law and kill iconic, protected whale by mistake

Icelandic whalers out hunting fin whales for the first time in three years appear to have killed a rare, protected blue whale (or blue/fin hybrid)...