The 69th meeting of the International Whaling Commission meeting has just concluded in Lima, Peru and whilst disappointingly the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary proposal was once again narrowly defeated by just one vote, overall the meeting was a great one for whales and the conservation agenda.
In his concluding remarks the Chair noted that, despite the matters that continue to divide us, meeting attendees had managed to prosecute arguments with clarity and respect – that even a small earthquake on the second last day of the meeting could not disturb! With some commentators predicting the death of the IWC in advance of this meeting, this meeting was certainly a demonstration that those predictions are greatly exaggerated where there is a will to work together.
Important decisions were taken at this meeting, including to approve ‘strike limit’ or catch quotas for aboriginal subsistence whaling for a six-year block by consensus, which some noted help to restore some faith in the Commission. An essential increase to the Commission’s budget to enable it to keep pace with inflation and ensure the full program of work can be delivered was also agreed.
Pro-whaling proposals failed
Proposals were considered to lift the moratorium and ‘encourage the orderly development of commercial whaling’, as well as looking at the role that whales play in food security. These proposals are part of a concerted effort by pro-whaling countries to establish a new form of ‘cultural’ whaling, and a push for the Commission to focus more on the management of whaling than the conservation of whales.
Both of these proposals had previously been brought to IWC68, with a commitment to work intersessionally, which failed to occur. Pro-conservation countries held detailed discussions on these controversial resolutions. Following the convening of a number of drafting groups and much debate, the proponents agreed to withdraw the resolutions on the understanding that commitments be made to work in the intersessional period up to IWC70 to see where any agreement between governments could be found.
This remains a fundamental issue for pro-whaling countries, so will continue to come back to the Commission as a point of tension.
IWC Secretariat
Proposals to increase IWC impact accepted
Other proposals from the EU were however accepted, two by consensus on cooperation in Antarctica and synergies with other international conventions (including the Convention on Biological Diversity), and another focussed on legal obligations related to commercial whaling (even more important this year due to Japan extending its whaling to include fin whales) was agreed by a majority vote.
These are all important resolutions that will increase the impact and effectiveness of the IWC’s work in the coming years, and scrutiny on whaling operations that continue outside the auspices of the IWC.
Tensions high but important strides underway to tackle whale threats
Whilst there still remains a real divide in Commission members, and tensions remained high throughout the meeting as to whether we would see a repeat of the walkout of countries we saw at IWC68, this meeting has proven that these differences can be worked through in a robust yet civil manner.
Attending these meetings reminds you of the vast amount of work underway under the auspices of the Commission on cetaceans globally. The Scientific Committee contains the world’s pre-eminent cetacean scientists undertaking a huge amount of research and work, from the state of whale populations, through to looking at the impacts of plastics and bycatch and how these threats to the world’s whales can be best mitigated. Together with the work of the Conservation Committee, important strides are being made to tackle these threats.
The Australian Delegation, including Alexia Wellbelove, AMCS Threatened Species Campaign Manager (far right), and Nicola Beynon, Humane Society International Australia (far left), as the two NGO representatives.
Australia to host IWC70
Dr Nick Gales, Australia’s Commissioner and Acting Chair, who unexpectedly had to step in as Acting Chair at this meeting due to Chair Diallo’s last minute change in travel plans, has now been formally appointed as Chair of the IWC, and to the excitement of many delegates Australia has been confirmed as the host of IWC70, which will be held in September/October 2026.
Australia remains a strong force for conservation within the Commission, and this leadership role will be important as we move into the next two years. The results from this week’s meeting are in large part due to the efficient and effective chairing of the meeting by Dr Gales, who made it clear what decisions needed to be made at key points, and that he would not tolerate the behaviour we have witnessed at these meetings in the past.
It remains to be seen how much intersessional work will be undertaken on the more controversial issues as prosecuted by the pro-whaling countries in an attempt to re-establish some form of whaling.