FAO Fisheries & Aquaculture - Regional fishery bodies (RFB)

Regional Fishery Bodies Summary Descriptions

International Whaling Commission (IWC)

Mission
Area of competence
Species and stocks coverage
Legal framework
Languages
Organizations involved
Management
Activities and meeting
EIMS Publications Database
Contacts

MissionObjectivesThe main objective of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) is to establish a system of international regulations to ensure proper and effective conservation and management of whale stocks. These regulations must be "such as are necessary to carry out the objectives and purposes of the Convention and to provide for the conservation, development, and optimum utilization of whale resources; must be based on scientific findings; and must take into consideration the interests of the consumers of whale products and the whaling industry." FunctionsThe main duty of the IWC is to keep under review and revise as necessary the measures laid down in the Schedule to the Convention that govern the conduct of whaling throughout the world. In addition, the Commission encourages, coordinates and funds whale research, monitors and provides advice to the commission on whalewatching, publishes the results of scientific research and promotes studies into related matters such as the humaneness of the killing operations. StrategyRegulations are adopted by the IWC through amending the Schedule to the Convention. The Convention permits the adoption of regulations that are aimed at managing whale stocks by determining:

protected and unprotected species;

open and closed seasons;

open and closed waters, including the designation of sanctuary areas

size limits for each species

time, methods and intensity of whaling (including the maximum catch of whales to be taken in any one season);

types and specifications of gear and apparatus and appliances that may be used;

methods of measurement;

catch returns and other statistical and biological records.

Area of competenceGlobal

IWC area of competence - High seas

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The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) are for illustration only and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers or boundaries.

Species and stocks coverageWhale stocks species. Legal frameworkThe IWC was set up under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, which was signed in Washington, DC, on 2 December 1946.
http://www.iwcoffice.org/_documents/commission/convention.pdf LanguagesEnglish as official language and English, French and Spanish as working languages. Organizations involvedThe list of member nations in this page may not be fully up-to-date. The up-to-date list can be consulted on the IWC Web site:

Member: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Republic of Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Lao People's Dem. Rep., Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent/Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United Rep. of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay.

ManagementCommissionThe Commission is the decision-making organ of the IWC. Each year, usually in May or June, the annual meeting of the Commission is held, either by invitation in any member country, or in the United Kingdom – where the Secretariat is based. The Commission has three main committees - Scientific, Technical, and Finance and Administration. Another committee (the Conservation Committee) was created in 2004. There are also Commission subcommittees that deal with aboriginal subsistence whaling, infractions (breaking of regulations) and other ad hoc working groups to deal with a wide range of issues. Scientific CommitteeAn important feature of the Convention is the emphasis it places on scientific advice. The Convention requires that amendments to the Schedule “shall be based on scientific findings”. To this end, the Commission has established a Scientific Committee.

The Scientific Committee comprises up to 200 of the world's leading whale biologists. Many are nominated by member governments. In addition, in recent years the Scientific Committee has invited other scientists to supplement its expertise in various areas. The subject matter considered by the Scientific Committee is largely determined by the scientific needs of the Commission. These are expressed in broad terms in the Convention text and are to:

encourage, recommend, or, if necessary, organize studies and investigations relating to whales and whaling;
collect and analyse statistical information concerning the current condition and trend of the whale stocks and the effects of whaling activities thereon;
study, appraise and disseminate information concerning methods of maintaining and increasing the populations of whale stocks.

Subcommittees and ad hoc working groupsThe Scientific Committee has established a number of subcommittees and working groups to discuss the major topics currently on its agenda, including:

revised management procedure;
aboriginal subsistence whaling management procedures;
bycatch;
assessments of nominated species/stocks;
stock definition;
environmental concerns;
whalewatching;
sanctuaries;
special permits;
small cetaceans.

SecretariatThe IWC has a full-time Secretariat with headquarters in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The Secretariat includes a Secretary, a Head of Finance and Administration, a Head of Science, a Head of Statistics and supporting staff. Activities and meeting
Information about programme, activities, meetings and resolutions of the IWC is available on the IWC Web site:

EIMS Publications Database
The IWC produces a number of reports, journal and special issues series. The publications mainly comprise the journal of Cetacean Research and Management and annual reports of the IWC.

These publications are available on the IWC Web site .

International Whaling Commission

The Red House

135 Station Road

Impington

Cambridge

CB24 9NP

Telephone: (+44)(0)1223 233971

Fax: (+44)(0)1223 232876

Email: secretariat@iwcoffice.org

Web site: http://www.iwcoffice.org



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