Introduction to IWC 70

Who will be attending

The member nations of the IWC are sharply divided in their perspectives on whaling. On the one side we have a group known as the Like-Minded, who essentially support whale conservation and favour the maintenance of the important global moratorium on commercial whaling that has been in force since 1986. On the other side, are a group of nations that favour the resumption of commercial whaling, and this includes Iceland, Norway and a number of small developing nations in the Caribbean, West Africa and other parts of the world. These might be called the Pro-Use Group (PUG) which is heavily influenced by the pro whaling policies of Japan even though it is no longer a member nation of the IWC.

The IWC makes it decisions in a number of ways but usually key to this process is voting. For major decisions, such as the establishment of whaling quotas or sanctuaries, 3/4 of those voting have to be in favour. For other decisions, typically expressed as resolutions, a simple majority (50% + 1) is required. Some are concerned that the location of the meeting might be used as an excuse for some countries to not attend, which may have an impact on the decision making of the Commission itself. Potentially this includes the related issue of ‘quorum’, which means that enough members of the Commission need to be present for the meeting to be able to adopt decisions. So, one way or another, which countries will actually show up with their voting rights intact is really very important.

A packed agenda, including a challenge to the moratorium

On the busy agenda are a number of resolutions which are focused on improving the conservation of various species by calling on the member nations to take appropriate actions and then there is one other resolution from the Pro-Use block which concerns re-establishing a process leading towards the resumption of commercial whaling. This resolution, as has been the case for other similar resolutions at recent IWC meetings, is championed by the Small Island Developing State of Antigua and Barbuda. We will be saying more about this resolution in the days to come and you can find out more about OceanCare’s view HERE.

Meanwhile, how are the whales themselves?

The global moratorium on commercial whaling can be seen as one of the greatest conservation successes in the past century. Whilst the whaling nations have continued to rail against it, it has allowed recovery in several great whale populations, and this can be celebrated. However, reports are now coming in from around the world that some whale populations are showing signs of significant stress and the primary indication of this is records of emaciated (skinny) whales. New technology, particularly in the form of drones, is allowing judgments about the body condition of living whales to be made from the air. Clearly, the whaling commission, with its important mandate for whale conservation, needs to now put considerable effort to address impacts on the whales’ health, their reproduction and the many other direct and indirect threats they face. It also needs to investigate what is causing this widespread and worrying phenomenon, including the potential impacts of climate change on the whales’ prey in their key feeding grounds. For many populations this means Antarctic or Arctic waters, where things are changing fast.

Meanwhile, where is Japan?

After Japan withdrew from the IWC it might have been hoped that they would no longer seek to influence matters there, but it is increasingly clear that this is not the case. Japan will be represented at the meeting, attending as an observer, but has also been active in the run up to IWC70. And is likely to be the lead coordinator behind the scenes of much of the PUG’s strategy. We have to wonder if Japan really sees any future usefulness in the IWC now that it has left it and is no longer using the IWC’s clause of ‘scientific whaling’ to camouflage its commercial whaling. In fact, Japan has never recognised or supported the wider conservation work being done by the Commission including work on environmental threats and extending to all species of cetaceans including the small ones like porpoises, dolphins, river dolphins and small toothed whales. This lack of support for the conservation work, particularly pertaining to these smaller species, has inhibited the Commission over the years.

But this is exactly that conservation agenda, which the overwhelming majority of IWC Member States have committed to being expanded on and conservation action intensified for many years and in particular during the 2018 Meeting in Brazil with the adoption of the so-called “Florianopolis Declaration”, which aimed to firmly shift the IWC’s focus to whale conservation.

A kaleidoscope of issues and high expectations

Here is a short selective list of the many other issues that will be in play at IWC70 over the coming days:
Resolutions on Vessel Strikes, Small Cetacean takes and the ‘Hobart Declaration’ (a celebration of the IWC at 80) ; and a Proposal for the South Atlantic Sanctuary
Other matters with conservation work streams that need to be endorsed and funded include marine debris, chemical pollution, noise pollution, climate change, and conservation management plans for a number of the more threatened species (including some new ones).

Finally, Ocean Care believes that the IWC needs to step up its work on the welfare of whales and we will be encouraging delegates to support this.

We will be providing regular updates and interpretation to this website.