Conclusion
Three minke whales breathing between ice floes
For over half a century, the IWC has been responsible for the management and conservation of whales. During that time, the world has taken one step away from the wholesale extermination of whales that was such a shameful episode in our past. But there is still much more that needs to be done. Whale numbers are still far below where they stood in the time before large-scale slaughter commenced.
Times have changed. Whales are no longer seen in most countries as just another marketable commodity. They have come to symbolise, rightly, the challenge we all face in the 21st century - whether we can turn away from unrestrained exploitation and find a new way to live in balance with our environment. Instead of killing whales for commercial profit, sustainable alternatives such as whale watching are becoming increasingly popular.
The IWC itself needs to move with the times. It is clearly under pressure from a few countries which, for their own motives, want to increase their kill of whales. It seems possible, even likely, that whales will once again be killed in increasing numbers unless the IWC can evolve to meet this new challenge. It is time for a fresh debate on the effective conservation of whales in the 21st century.
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