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The Whaling Regime

The Whaling Regime. Whaling. Whale Products: oil whalebone and baleen meat Whaling History Vikings and Basques 18th century: US and Britain largest whaling fleets Early 20 th century: tragedy of the commons. The International Whaling Commission (IWC).

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The Whaling Regime

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  1. The Whaling Regime

  2. Whaling • Whale Products: • oil • whalebone and baleen • meat • Whaling History • Vikings and Basques • 18th century: US and Britain largest whaling fleets • Early 20th century: tragedy of the commons

  3. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) • International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (1946) • -“to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry…” • Established the IWC -whaling and non-whaling states can be members; -15 member states until about the 1970s -Schedule: regulates global catch quotas; length of whaling season; partial moratoriums. - 3/4 majority to amend the Schedule -members can lodge and objection to amendments in the Schedule and thereby not be bound by these amendments

  4. Effect of IWC

  5. From Management to Conservation • Depleted whale stocks • US, New Zeeland stopped whaling • NGO campaign against whaling • 1972: Call for moratorium on commercial whaling

  6. US Unilateralism • The Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen’s Protective Act (1971) - Import restrictions on international fishing operations which diminish the effectiveness of an international fishery conservation program • Secretary of Commerce certifies that a state is diminishing the effectiveness of the IWC • 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act • Peru, Chile, South Korea, and Taiwan: Non IWC members certified under the Pelly amendment

  7. US Multilateralism • Increase IWC participation of whaling states close to the US: Peru, Chile, South Korea, Taiwan.. • Increase IWC participation of non-whaling states: Seychelles, Antigua and Barbuda; Oman, Kenya, Egypt… • Convert pro-whaling states: Argentina, Uruguay, Australia…

  8. Commercial Whaling Moratorium • Adopted in 1982;in effect since 1986-87; • Japan, Peru, Norway, Russia objected • All but Norway withdrew objection • Iceland left IWC in 1993 • Aboriginal whaling allowed: US (45), Russia (170), Greenland (127), St. Vincent & Grenadines(3)

  9. Norway • Objected the Moratorium • 1987-temporary halt on commercial whaling; • Research to assess NE Atlantic minke whale stock (approx. 86,700 animals). IWC Scientific Committee confirmed Minke whales can be harvested sustainably; • Certified under Pelly Amendment (4 times) • Resumed whaling 1993 • 549 northern minkes 2001; • 674 northern minkes 2002;

  10. Iceland • Withdrew in 1992, but did not whale since • Back in the IWC in 2001 • Entered objection to the moratorium • State intent to resume whaling in 2006

  11. Japan • Hunts whales for scientific purposes • 400 minke annually in the Antarctic; some endangered whales (e.g. 50 sei whales) • Sells meat on the market

  12. Estimates of Whale Stock

  13. Future of the Moratorium? • Irish proposal (1998) – allow whaling only in exclusive economic zones (not in deep ocean); only for domestic consumption • 2003 IWC resolution: 25:20 for conservation and against lifting the ban

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