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.

The International Whaling Commission was launched with only 15 member nations. As of early 2010, 88 nations belong to the IWC. This membership has more than doubled since 2001, and only 37 nations belonged to the IWC in 1982, when the whaling moratorium was voted in by 25 to 7, with 5 members abstaining. Many of the newest member nations have been actively recruited by Japan, in an effort to build a three-quarters majority of pro-whaling votes. Unless Japan’s vote-buying practices are halted, the IWC could soon be controlled by one pro-whaling country: Japan. Already, Japan has secured enough allies to bring progress at the IWC to a halt — neither the pro-whaling nor the anti-whaling countries can garner enough votes to secure a three-quarters majority on any binding resolution.

Learn more about the IWC’s membership, and the threat of vote-buying

• View the complete list of member nations.
• Read more about vote-buying
• Download the Vote-Buying Report (pdf)