Once again, the call to create a sanctuary for whales in the Atlantic faced obstruction as whaling nations and their allies blocked a proposal, stalling progress. The request has been raised 12 times at the International Whaling Commission, yet it has never reached ratification.
Recently, the plan to establish a whaling sanctuary in the South Atlantic stalled again and will not be revisited until 2024 after whaling nations boycotted a vote at the International Whaling Commission meeting held in Portorož, Slovenia, this Thursday.
The vote could not proceed because 17 of the 52 members were absent from the general assembly, leaving the body without a quorum to cast ballots. The decision-making body, with voting rights, was unable to act in that moment.
Given the circumstances, the Commission agreed to start a process to clarify participation and quorum rules, with discussions slated for the next plenary meeting in 2024, as announced by the EFE press office ahead of a formal decision at that time. The IWC has said these questions will be addressed in due course.
Japan resumed whaling in 2019, as noted on the conference floor, with the country having withdrawn from the IWC after a proposal to phase out the commercial moratorium, established in 1982, received opposition due to concerns about certain species at risk of extinction.
Despite the moratorium, Japan, along with Norway and Iceland, continued whale hunting for commercial purposes. Norway announced plans to end this practice in 2024 because demand has fallen in Iceland.
Alther, a representative from the NGO network, has indicated that reaching a 75% majority to create the Atlantic sanctuary has never been closer, a target that has been rejected twelve times since 2001.
The issue has drawn criticism from conservation groups. Pro Wildlife, a German NGO, described the behavior of the voting nations as sabotage, highlighting the broader concern about political maneuvers eroding protections for whales.
Three nations persist in whale hunting
Among those blocking the vote, Iceland stands out as having a significant whaling industry. Other countries involved include several in the Caribbean, Africa, and Oceania that have benefited from extensive aid from Japan over the years, according to representatives of the Whale Conservation Institute, which attended the Portorož meeting.
Japan resumed whaling in 2019, after leaving the IWC following a proposal to end the commercial moratorium. The moratorium was enacted in 1982, but its continuation faced opposition over claims that certain species were endangered.
Even with the ban, Japan and others have continued commercial whaling. Iceland, meanwhile, has signaled an intent to discontinue the practice in 2024 due to weakening demand.
According to Alther, achieving a 75% majority to establish the Atlantic sanctuary has never been closer, though past attempts have been rejected multiple times since 2001. This evolving debate centers on how to balance conservation with economic interests in marine resources.
Whaling remains an issue of international contention. The Portorož discussions have drawn attention to the strategic alliances and funding networks that influence policy decisions surrounding whale protection and commercial activities.
Roxana Schteinbarg, co-founder of the Argentine NGO Whale Conservation Institute, noted that the proposal is moving forward this time and called the developments sabotage, underscoring the urgency felt by conservation groups about preserving whale populations in this region.
A two-decade moratorium
The initiative proposed a ban on all forms of whaling for at least 20 years within a sanctuary spanning from the equator to Cape Horn and from South America to West Africa. Advocates argue that the region harbors a vast diversity of whale species—about 54 species—representing more than 60 percent of the world’s whale diversity. Sanctuaries already exist in the Antarctic and Indian Oceans, illustrating a precedent for large-scale protections.
At this year’s IWC meeting, two additional proposals were offered by Japan’s allies. One suggested a sustainable quota for commercial hunting, while the other linked quotas to efforts against hunger and poverty. NGOs warn that these measures may be designed to gradually erode the moratorium on hunting rather than strengthen protections for whales.
The debate continues as negotiators weigh ecological benefits against economic and political considerations. The international community remains focused on creating a long-term framework that could sustain whale populations and marine ecosystems for future generations.
Environment authorities will publish further updates as discussions proceed, with ongoing dialogue intended to clarify participation rules and voting procedures that affect decisions on the sanctuary proposal.