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The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

Official Name

The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

Signatories

The treaty was signed by Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, France, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and South Africa.

Dates

The treaty was signed on 2 December 1946 in Washington DC, United States and came into effect on 1 July 1948.

Languages

The treaty was written in English.

The signatories of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling recognised that over-fishing in particular areas was seriously affecting the population of whales throughout the oceans. The Convention was put in place to help preserve whale populations, and only allowing the hunting of whales which have sufficient numbers.

Key Points

The treaty outlined that the points of the Convention applied to factory ships, ships on which whales were handled and treated either completely or in part; land stations, where whales were handled and treated; and whale catchers, ships that scout, hunt, hold, tow, or take whales.

The Convention would lead to the establishment of a Commission that would organise studies into whaling, whale numbers and whaling activities; and monitor and edit regulations relating to whale species, whaling seasons, hunting waters and sanctuary areas, methods of whaling according to study results.

The governments that are subject to the treaty would monitor whaling and allow a certain amount of whaling permits according to the guidelines of the Commission and punish individuals and vessels that ignore the treaty.

Current Events concerning the Treaty

A major source of controversy surrounding the Convention has been the whaling activities of Japan. Japan has carried out scientific research on whales in the Antarctic waters since 1987, according to the Japan Times. The environmental organisation Greenpeace often takes to the ocean when these expeditions are taking place, interfering with whaling operations. Greenpeace in turn has claimed that the Japanese have been hunting in sanctuary waters, as well as territory belonging to other countries.

Japan in the past has made requests to expand whaling research operations to include humpback and fin whales with their research of minke whales in the Antarctic. The New Zealand and Australian governments have rallied in the past to have the article which allows whaling for research purposes to be removed from the Convention as many of the whales pursued in by the Japanese migrate through their national waters.

In January 2008 the Australian Federal Court found that Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean violates Australian law. However, it is difficult for the Australian government to make these laws stick as the Japanese interpret any arrest of Japanese whalers to violate the Antarctic Treaty. Later in November 2008 Japan agreed to cut target whaling numbers to 750 whales during their 2009 season.

Resources used:

"The Convention." Welcome to the Website of the International Whaling Commission. 26 Feb. 2009 <http://www.iwcoffice.org/commission/convention.htm#convsigs>.

NewsBank, inc. A Premier Information Provider. 26 Feb. 2009 <http://www.newsbank.com/>.