Case Study: Antarctica - IWC (AQA A-Level Geography): Revision Notes
Case Study: Antarctica - IWC
What is the International Whaling Commission?
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is an international organisation that manages whale conservation and regulates whaling activities worldwide. It was established in 1946 to protect whale populations and ensure responsible management of the whaling industry.
The IWC's primary responsibility is to oversee the measures set out in the Whaling Convention, which controls how whaling is conducted globally. This convention serves as the foundation for international cooperation in whale conservation.
Key measures managed by the IWC
The IWC implements several important conservation measures designed to protect whale populations and regulate hunting activities:
- Complete protection for certain whale species that are most at risk
- Whale sanctuaries - designated areas where whaling is prohibited
- Catch limits - restrictions on the numbers and size of whales that can be taken
- Closed seasons and areas - specific times and locations where whaling cannot occur
- Protection of breeding whales - prohibition on capturing suckling calves and female whales with calves
- Data collection - requirements for catch reports and other biological records
These measures represent a comprehensive approach to whale conservation, combining protected areas, population monitoring, and direct hunting restrictions to ensure sustainable whale populations.
The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary
In 1994, the IWC created the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, covering an area of 50 million km². This represents a massive protected zone where all commercial whaling is banned.
However, Japan continued to conduct what it called 'research whaling' in this sanctuary, exploiting a loophole in the regulations. This controversial practice allowed Japan to maintain whaling activities despite the sanctuary's protected status.
The whaling moratorium
Background
In 1982, the IWC made a landmark decision to suspend all commercial whaling starting from 1986 onwards. This is known as the whaling moratorium.
The moratorium remains in effect today, despite opposition from Japan and other pro-whaling nations that have attempted to overturn it. This represents one of the most significant international conservation agreements in history.
Types of whaling recognised by the IWC
The IWC distinguishes between three different forms of whaling:
- Aboriginal subsistence whaling - traditional hunting by indigenous communities
- Commercial whaling - industrial-scale hunting for profit
- Special permit whaling - whaling conducted for scientific research purposes
Understanding these categories is essential for comprehending how the moratorium applies differently to various whaling activities.
Japan's evasion of the moratorium
Japan found ways to continue whaling despite the international ban, raising significant concerns among conservation organisations and governments worldwide:
- Used 'special permit' whaling claiming it was for scientific research
- Exploited a loophole in IWC regulations that allowed whaling for 'scientific research' in the Southern Ocean
- Japan argued the purpose was to monitor whale stocks in preparation for resuming commercial whaling
- Conservation groups, including the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the Australian government, continuously monitored these activities
Critical Issue: Japan's exploitation of the 'scientific research' loophole allowed it to continue large-scale whaling operations while technically complying with the moratorium. This undermined the effectiveness of the international ban for nearly three decades.
2014 International Court of Justice ruling
In 2014, the International Court of Justice issued a significant ruling that changed the landscape of whale conservation:
- Japan's whaling fleet had been using 'research whaling' as a cover for commercial whaling
- The court determined that Japan's activities were not genuinely scientific
This landmark decision exposed the misuse of the scientific research exemption and forced Japan to reconsider its whaling strategy.
Recent developments
The 2018 Florianopolis Declaration
In 2018, IWC members met in Florianopolis, Brazil. Key outcomes included:
- Japan proposed removing the moratorium on commercial whaling - this was rejected
- The 'Florianopolis Declaration' was adopted, stating that:
- The moratorium would continue indefinitely
- The goal is to allow whale populations to recover to pre-industrial whaling levels
The Florianopolis Declaration represented a decisive reaffirmation of the international community's commitment to whale conservation, prioritising population recovery over commercial interests.
Japan's withdrawal
Following these decisions, Japan took dramatic action that reshaped its relationship with international whale conservation efforts:
- Withdrew its membership from the IWC
- Resumed commercial whaling within its own territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
- Had to cease 'special permit' whaling activities in the Southern Ocean
This withdrawal meant Japan was no longer bound by IWC regulations but could only conduct whaling in waters under its own jurisdiction.
Other whaling nations
- Norway and Iceland continue to hunt common minke whales commercially within their own EEZs
- Neither country takes whales from the Southern Ocean
These nations never fully accepted the moratorium and have maintained objections to the commercial whaling ban.
Aboriginal subsistence whaling
The moratorium does not apply to aboriginal subsistence whaling, recognising the unique cultural and traditional significance of indigenous whaling practices:
- Carried out by indigenous cultures in Alaska, Greenland and parts of Canada
- Not viewed as commercial whaling
- Regulated by the IWC, which sets catch limits every six years
This exemption recognises the cultural importance and traditional nature of indigenous whaling practices. Unlike commercial whaling, aboriginal subsistence whaling is conducted at a small scale for food and cultural purposes, not for profit, and is carefully monitored to ensure sustainability.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- The IWC was established in 1946 to manage whale conservation and regulate whaling activities
- A whaling moratorium has been in place since 1986, banning commercial whaling globally
- The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary covers 50 million km² and prohibits commercial whaling
- Japan exploited a loophole by claiming 'research whaling' until a 2014 court ruling exposed this as a cover for commercial whaling
- In 2018, Japan withdrew from the IWC after the Florianopolis Declaration rejected lifting the moratorium, and now conducts commercial whaling in its own waters
- Aboriginal subsistence whaling remains exempt from the moratorium due to its cultural significance