Facts about International Whaling Commission
- 07
Since 1986, the International Whaling Commission's Scientific Committee has rejected over 95 percent of proposed whaling research programs submitted by member nations.
- 06
Australia's objection to the whaling moratorium in 1982 was withdrawn by 1986, making it one of the first major pro-whaling nations to reverse course at the International Whaling Commission.
- 05
In 1986, the International Whaling Commission implemented a moratorium on commercial whaling that reduced global whale catches from approximately 30,000 annually to under 2,000 today.
- 04
Kiribati, a Pacific island nation, joined the International Whaling Commission in 2012 primarily to support commercial whaling proposals from pro-whaling countries.
- 03
Japan's scientific whaling program killed over 30,000 whales between 1986 and 2018 under International Whaling Commission loopholes before withdrawing from the organization.
- 02
Norway objected to a 1986 commercial whaling moratorium and continues harvesting approximately 1,300 minke whales annually despite International Whaling Commission restrictions.
- 01
The International Whaling Commission established in 1946 has 88 member nations that vote on commercial whaling quotas and conservation policies.