The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is the global body responsible for the management of whaling and the conservation of whales.

IWC Membership and Procedure

Any nation that formally adheres to the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling can join the IWC. Each member country appoints a Commissioner, who is often assisted by various experts and advisers. The IWC Chair and Vice-Chair are elected from among the Commissioners and usually serve for three years.

As of early 2009, 85 nations belong to the IWC. Every dues-paying member has one vote, regardless of its population, its economic power, or whether it is engaged in whaling.

Non-binding resolutions on any matter concerning whales and whaling may be adopted by a simple majority of member states voting “yes” or “no.” Binding decisions (for example, an overturn of the current moratorium on commercial whaling) require a three-quarter majority.

More than 25,000 Whales Still Killed

Although the IWC suspended all commercial whaling in 1986 more than 25,000 whales have been intentionally hunted and killed since then. Many of these deaths are linked to the so-called scientific whaling program in Japan.

Learn more about modern whale hunts

Votes for Sale

In an effort to manipulate potential resolutions, Japan is actively buying the votes and support of numerous countries. By soliciting allies, Japan hopes to amass a pro-whaling voting bloc that will be large enough to control any simple majority votes at future IWC meetings. Even some landlocked countries, such as Mongolia, have joined the IWC and vote in lockstep with Japan. This bloc has already sunk resolutions that would have established additional whale sanctuaries in the South Pacific and South Atlantic Oceans.

Read the Vote Buying Report for more information (pdf)

The Return of Commercial Whaling?

Japan and Norway are now trying to push through a weakened version of a Revised Management Scheme (RMS) for commercial whaling. If passed, their proposed RMS would lift the existing ban on whaling and weaken enforcement provisions. Japan and Norway have also stalled the introduction of a whale DNA registry, which the IWC seeks to include in the RMS. This DNA registry could officially expose the existence of illegal whaling in Japan and elsewhere, by identifying the species of whale meat offered for sale in international markets. Independent work by IFAW has already proven that Japan is killing more endangered fin whales than they claim. More illegal whaling behavior could be exposed if IWC succeeds in introducing an official whale DNA registry to the RMS.