Max Rainey April 20, 2011

Modern Whaling Began in early 20 th century with the invention of the modern harpoon gun Introduction of factory ships These factors allowed whalers to hunt larger and faster whales

Modern Whaling Ship Norwegian Whaling Ship

Modern Industry Whales mainly hunted today in Japan and Norway for their meat, bones, and baleen Largest market for Minke Whales

Population Decline Northern Atlantic Right Whale populations dropped to 350 individuals Blue Whales in the Artic are less than 1% of there original populations Western Pacific Gray Whales, most endangered great whale, near the edge of extension at 100 individuals

IWC International Whaling Commission Set up under International Convention for Regulation of Whaling Convention signed in Washington, DC on December 2, 1946 Task of the IWC is to govern all aspects of whaling industry throughout the world

IWC Purpose Protection of certain species Designate specific areas as whale sanctuaries Set limits on the numbers and size of whales which may be taken Prescribe open and closed seasons and areas for whaling Prohibit the capture of suckling calves and female whales accompanied by calves Compilation of catch reports and other statistical and biological records is also required

IWC Commission Members BarbudaArgentinaAustraliaAustria BelgiumBelizeBeninBrazil BulgariaCambodiaCameroonChile China, People's Rep ofColombiaCongo, Rep of theCosta Rica Côte d'IvoireCroatiaCyprusCzech Republic DenmarkDominicaDominican RepublicEcuador EritreaEstoniaFinlandFrance GabonGambia, TheGermanyGhana, Rep of GreeceGrenadaGuatemalaGuinea-Bissau Guinea, Rep ofHungaryIcelandIndia IrelandIsraelItalyJapan KenyaKiribatiKorea, Rep ofLaos LithuaniaLuxembourgMaliMarshall Islands, Rep of MauritaniaMexicoMonacoMongolia MoroccoNauruThe NetherlandsNew Zealand NicaraguaNorwayOmanPalau PanamaPeruPolandPortugal RomaniaRussian FederationSan MarinoSt. Kitts & Nevis St. LuciaSt. Vincent & The GrenadinesSenegalSlovak Republic SloveniaSolomon IslandsSouth AfricaSpain SurinameSwedenSwitzerlandTanzania TogoTuvaluUKUruguay USA

IWC Problems Any government can 'object' to any decision which it considers to seriously affect its national interest The governments that object are not then bound by that particular decision This mechanism has been strongly criticized as rendering the Commission “toothless” A government is able to withdraw from the convention at any time

Founded in 1971 by a small team of activists from Vancouver Motivated by mission to create a green and peaceful world Set sail for island of Amchitka, last refuge for 3,000 endangered sea otters, and home to bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and other wildlife.

Greenpeace Whale Defenders 1986 moratorium was put in place to help dwindling whale populations, but 25 years later hunting still continued Countries such as; Iceland, Japan, and Norway all continue to hunt while in Greenpeace’s opinion authorities turn a blind eye Greenpeace will continue efforts to protect whales until they feel the shameful and unnecessary slaughter has stopped and whales can once again roam the seas in freedom

Animal Planet Whale Wars Any Questions????

References /whale-defenders/ /whale-defenders/ hmod.htm hmod.htm