Protecting the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary
What is the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary?
In 1994 , the International Whaling Commission (IWC) established a whale sanctuary in the Southern Ocean. Commercial whaling is not allowed within the sanctuary, which covers much of the ocean south of the 40˚S parallel (see IWC's map). The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary overlaps with the Indian Ocean Sanctuary. Prior to the establishment of the current sanctuary, the IWC had designated other areas as sanctuaries to protect whales from whaling pressures which placed enormous pressure on whale populations and drove many species to near extinction.
How is the Whale Sanctuary Threatened?
Critically, the Whale Sanctuary allows an exemption for "scientific" whaling, or whaling for the purposes of scientific research. Iceland and Japan have exploited this loophole to continue whaling. Whale meat obtained from this "scientific" research is usually sold for human consumption. "Scientific" whaling has often targeted minke whales, which are relatively abundant. Minke whales are smaller than humpbacks and fin whales, and were not hunted extensively during the peak of the whaling industry in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. With other whale populations depleted, minkes became more attractive to whalers. Countries such as Iceland and Japan that seek scientific exemptions have used their large population size to argue that there is no reason to prohibit small-scale harvesting of these whales. Nevertheless, there are many non-lethal methods widely employed by researchers to study cetaceans. Many whale conservationists therefore believe that the "scientific" exemption is being used to provide official cover for the resumption of commercial whaling.
Recently, Japan has sought to add humpback and fin whales to its list of whales taken under its scientific research exemption. Unlike minke whales, humpbacks and fin whales were historically targeted by whalers, and their populations have not yet fully recovered. Many countries have protested the actions of whaling countries both on conservation and economic grounds. Whale watching has become an extremely lucrative attraction for tourists to Australia and island countries in the Pacific. ASOC supports the protection of whales from whaling, whether scientific or otherwise, in the Whale Sanctuary.
What about the Cultural Rights of Whaling Nations?
Whaling nations, including Japan, defend whaling as a critical part of their culture, and often indicate that calls from other nations that they stop whaling are disrespectful to their cultures. Nevertheless, whaling and whale products are perhaps not as popular as their strenuous defenses of the practice would suggest. A recent report by the WWF and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) found that whaling in Norway and Japan was heavily subsidized by the government in the face of declining market value. Taxpayer money subsidizes not only the operation of whaling vessels, but also marketing and public relations campaigns to shore up public support for whaling and to encourage consumption of whale products. While many countries support industries in similar ways, this report has amassed substantial evidence that whaling is not profitable, begging the question of the true motives of these countries in continuing a controversial practice that is not essential to the economy or to their national food supply.
ASOC and the IWC
ASOC recommends that the IWC consider additional steps that will help protect the Sanctuary’s integrity. ASOC also recommends that the IWC arrange for the preparation of a comprehensive, nonlethal and long-term programme of research to (a) study and monitor the changes in the Southern Ocean ecosystem as they may affect whales and (b) to track the expected recovery of whale populations and the Antarctic ecosystem structure and properties since the 1982 decision setting all commercial whaling catch limits to zero for an indefinite time (the “moratorium”) and the designation of the Southern Ocean as a sanctuary in 1994. Further, the IWC should urge its members not to issue further Special Permits for the taking of whales under the scientific exemption. Additionally, the IWC should (a) request Governments which have undertaken Special Permit programs to make fully and freely available all scientific data obtained from these activities, and (b) instruct its Scientific Committee to engage in a cooperative assessment of the scientific findings from those data. ASOC also recommends that the IWC develop, in conjunction with the relevant treaty organizations and international organizations, a plan for the management of the Sanctuary. Read about our management plan here.