2006年，该委员会大会通过了一项支持恢复商业捕鲸的议案，但由于推翻1986年的商业捕鲸禁令需要得到委员会75%以上成员的支持，因此商业捕鲸禁令依然有效。

2019年6月30日，日本正式退出国际捕鲸委员会，定于次日重新开始商业捕鲸。

中国、丹麦、巴西、印度、多米尼加、百慕大、西班牙、贝里斯、委内瑞拉、法国、肯亚、芬兰、阿根廷、南非、美国、英国、哥斯达黎加、挪威、格瑞纳达、秘鲁、索罗门、新西兰、荷兰、智利、塞内加尔、奥地利、爱尔兰、瑞士、瑞典、圣文森、德国、摩纳哥、墨西哥、澳洲、俄罗斯

2018年9月10日，国际捕鲸委员会大会在巴西召开。日方在会上提出要恢复商业捕鲸，可以捕捞小须鲸等一部分资源丰富的鲸种。但国际捕鲸委员会以41票反对、27票赞成的投票结果，否决了日方恢复商业捕鲸的提案。

2018年12月25日，日本政府在内阁会议上同意退出国际捕鲸委员会，并将在26日正式宣布这一决定。日媒表示，这意味着日本在近30年后将重启商业捕鲸活动，此举必定会遭到来自国际社会的批评。

2019年6月30日，日本正式退出国际捕鲸委员会，定于次日重新开始商业捕鲸。

国际捕鲸管理公约的执行机构。该公约于1946年缔结，1948年开始生效。各国接受科学小组委员会就控制捕鲸数目所作的劝告，并由该委员会会议作出决定。该机构工作的目的：一方面为防止鲸类减少而实行控制，另一方面是协调行业内各国及各部门的利益。

1972年开始限制猎捕种类，但仍受到自然保护潮流的强烈批评。在欧美各国，委员会成员国逐渐从代表行业转为代表舆论，捕鲸面临停止状态。1977年以后各捕鲸国处于孤立地位。

1982年委员会作出了暂时停止捕鲸的决议，本委员会的性质、宗旨也发生重大变化。停止捕鲸，对保护鲸类、维持地球生态平衡无疑具有重要意义。

国际捕鲸委员会负责监督评估世界各国捕鲸鱼之数量及种类，是否符合公约之有关规定。这些规定包括完全禁止捕捉若干频临绝种之珍贵鲸鱼，将若干水域划为鲸鱼保护区，规定捕鲸鱼之数目及大小，规定开放及禁止捕捉鲸鱼之季节及水域，同时严格禁止捕捉尚未断乳的幼鲸及陪同幼鲸的母鲸。公约也规定必须申报捕鲸鱼的数目、种类及其他有关资料。但对于提出内容异议的国家无效。

除此之外，国际捕鲸委员会也鼓励并参与有关鲸鱼之研究，发表研究鲸鱼的科学论文，提倡以更人道的方式进行宰杀鲸鱼的工作。

任何愿意遵守国际捕鲸管制公约的国家均可加入国际捕鲸委员会。每个会员国由一位委员出任代表，他可获得数位专家及顾问的协助。

IWC是国际捕鲸委员会（International Whaling Commission）的英文缩写。这是一个被联合国认可，负责保护鲸类及管理捕鲸行业的政府间机构。

1946年，全球海域中的商业捕鲸活动达到历史上的最高峰，鲸类的命运岌岌可危，以国家为成员的IWC由此应运而生。每届IWC总会引起全世界鲸类保护者们的特别关注，因为通过这个机构，在陆地上行走的人类将决定大洋里体积最庞大的鲸类的命运。

迄今（2006年）决议已上演了不止一次：1986年，IWC通过决案叫停全球范围内的商业捕鲸活动；1994年，各国在IWC年会上投票以23：1压倒性优势通过将拥有80%鲸类总量的南大洋定为鲸类禁猎区，那张唯一反对票便是来自捕鲸大国日本。国际捕鲸委员会理应为鲸类，而不是为捕鲸国服务。但自1994年后至今（2006年）中“捕鲸派”的增多，情势急转直下。

2006年，在日本的带动下，IWC年会暗流涌动，日本提出的取缔南大洋禁猎区议案的投票结果是28：33。虽然议案未获通过，但如此微弱的差距是IWC历史上前所未有的。更为危急的是， 《圣基茨宣言》最终以33：32一票的优势通过，该份宣言提出的“正常化”主张，实际上是想通过改革国际捕鲸委员，来打压国际环保组织在保护鲸类法案上的影响力并对今后国际捕鲸委员会为政府间机构，1946年，建立在《国际管制捕鲸公约》的基础之上，负责保护鲸类及管理捕鲸行业。它的成立是由于人们清楚认识到捕鲸造成鲸的数量急剧下降，并希望能够控制这种势头。任何《国际管制捕鲸公约》的缔约国都可加入国际捕鲸委员会，2008年包含72个成员国。要获得投票权，成员国必须确认自己的参会资格；其次，各国要交纳会费，哥斯达黎加、冈比亚、肯尼亚、秘鲁、多哥由于未缴纳会费而没能参加2006年在圣基茨召开的会议。

1986年，国际捕鲸委员会颁布了禁止商业捕鲸令，对保护这种珍稀动物发挥了巨大作用，商业捕鲸的主要目标小须鲸的数量近年已经上升到数十万头。不过，这种趋势可能在2006年被中止。《纽约时报》对多个国家的渔业部门高级官员进行了采访，他们都认为，2006年捕鲸委员会大会将面临决定性时刻，因为委员会成立60年来将首次出现支持商业捕鲸成员多过反对成员的局面。

2006年，支持商业捕鲸的主要是日本、挪威和冰岛，反对者主要是美国、澳大利亚和新西兰。共同社报道说，日本预计，委员会66个成员中，支持日本恢复商业捕鲸提案的可达33个，而明确反对的只有32个，还有1个没表态。尽管日本要得到大会四分之三多数票才能够废除商业捕鲸禁令，但支持捕鲸成员一旦过半，他们就可以控制会议议程，推动就相关动议和决议展开秘密投票。共同社此前证实说，一旦所获支持过半，日本就将动议取消保护委员会，并提出呼吁恢复商业捕鲸的决议案。国际爱护动物基金会官员韦斯通说，如果国际捕鲸委员会立场变为支持商业捕鲸，整个保护工作将被中断，日本、挪威和冰岛等国将更有理由放手捕鲸。这三个国家已经宣布，计划2008年前将捕鲸数量由每年2395头增加到3215头。同时，另外一些小国也会加入捕鲸者行列。“现有鲸的数量根本不足以承受恢复商业捕鲸带来的压力。”韦斯通说，在过去100多年中，商业捕鲸几乎造成鲸的灭绝，1920年时世界上还有25万头蓝鲸和60万头长须鲸，2006年时只剩当时的4%和8%。

原文

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE REGULATION OF WHALING

WASHINGTON, 2ND DECEMBER, 1946

The Governments whose duly authorised representatives have subscribed hereto,

Recognizing the interest of the nations of the world in safeguarding for future generations the great natural resources represented by the whale stocks;

Considering that the history of whaling has seen over-fishing of one area after another and of one species of whale after another to such a degree that it is essential to protect all species of whales from further over-fishing;

Recognizing that the whale stocks are susceptible of natural increases if whaling is properly regulated, and that increases in the size of whale stocks will permit increases in the number of whales which may be captured without endangering these natural resources;

Recognizing that it is in the common interest to achieve the optimum level of whale stocks as rapidly as possible without causing widespread economic and nutritional distress;

Recognizing that in the course of achieving these objectives, whaling operations should be confined to those species best able to sustain exploitation in order to give an interval for recovery to certain species of whales now depleted in numbers;

Desiring to establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries to ensure proper and effective conservation and development of whale stocks on the basis of the principles embodied in the provisions of the International Agreement for the Regulation of Whaling, signed in London on 8th June, 1937, and the protocols to that Agreement signed in London on 24th June, 1938, and 26th November, 1945; and

Having decided to conclude a convention to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry;

Have agreed as follows:-

Article I

This Convention applies to factory ships, land stations, and whale catchers under the jurisdiction of the Contracting Governments and to all waters in which whaling is prosecuted by such factory ships, land stations, and whale catchers.

Article II

As used in this Convention:-

Article III

The Contracting Governments agree to establish an International Whaling Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, to be composed of one member from each Contracting Government. Each member shall have one vote and may be accompanied by one or more experts and advisers.

The Commission shall elect from its own members a Chairman and Vice-Chairman and shall determine its own Rules of Procedure. Decisions of the Commission shall be taken by a simple majority of those members voting except that a three-fourths majority of those members voting shall be required for action in pursuance of Article V. The Rules of Procedure may provide for decisions otherwise than at meetings of the Commission.

The Commission may appoint its own Secretary and staff.

The Commission may set up, from among its own members and experts or advisers, such committees as it considers desirable to perform such functions as it may authorize.

The expenses of each member of the Commission and of his experts and advisers shall be determined by his own Government.

Recognizing that specialized agencies related to the United Nations will be concerned with the conservation and development of whale fisheries and the products arising therefrom and desiring to avoid duplication of functions, the Contracting Governments will consult among themselves within two years after the coming into force of this Convention to decide whether the Commission shall be brought within the framework of a specialized agency related to the United Nations.

In the meantime the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland shall arrange, in consultation with the other Contracting Governments, to convene the first meeting of the Commission, and shall initiate the consultation referred to in paragraph 6 above.

Subsequent meetings of the Commission shall be convened as the Commission may determine.

Article IV

The Commission may either in collaboration with or through independent agencies of the Contracting Governments or other public or private agencies, establishments, or organizations, or independently; (a) encourage, recommend, or if necessary, organize studies and investigations relating to whales and whaling; (b)collect and analyze statistical information concerning the current condition and trend of the whale stocks and the effects of whaling activities thereon; (c)study, appraise, and disseminate information concerning methods of maintaining and increasing the populations of whale stocks.

The Commission shall arrange for the publication of reports of its activities, and it may publish independently or in collaboration with the International Bureau for Whaling Statistics at Sandefjord in Norway and other organizations and agencies such reports as it deems appropriate, as well as statistical, scientific, and other pertinent information relating to whales and whaling.

Article V

The Commission may amend from time to time the provisions of the Schedule by adopting regulations with respect to the conservation and utilization of whale resources, fixing (a) protected and unprotected species; (b) open and closed seasons; (c) open and closed waters, including the designation of sanctuary areas; (d) size limits for each species; (e) time, methods, and intensity of whaling (including the maximum catch of whales to be taken in any one season); (f) types and specifications of gear and apparatus and appliances which may be used; (g) methods of measurement; and (h) catch returns and other statistical and biological records.

These amendments of the Schedule (a) shall be such as are necessary to carry out the objectives and purposes of this Convention and to provide for the conservation, development, and optimum utilization of the whale resources; (b) shall be based on scientific findings; (c) shall not involve restrictions on the number or nationality of factory ships or land stations, nor allocate specific quotas to any factory ship or land station or to any group of factory ships or land stations; and (d) shall take into consideration the interests of the consumers of whale products and the whaling industry.

Each of such amendments shall become effective with respect to the Contracting Governments ninety days following notification of the amendment by the Commission to each of the Contracting Governments, except that (a) if any Government presents to the Commission objection to any amendment prior to the expiration of this ninety-day period, the amendment shall not become effective with respect to any of the Governments for an additional ninety days; (b) thereupon, any other Contracting Government may present objection to the amendment at any time prior to the expiration of the additional ninety-day period, or before the expiration of thirty days from the date of receipt of the last objection received during such additional ninety-day period, whichever date shall be the later; and (c) thereafter, the amendment shall become effective with respect to all Contracting Governments which have not presented objection but shall not become effective with respect to any Government which has so objected until such date as the objection is withdrawn. The Commission shall notify each Contracting Government immediately upon receipt of each objection and withdrawal and each Contracting Government shall acknowledge receipt of all notifications of amendments, objections, and withdrawals.

No amendments shall become effective before 1st July, 1949.

Article VI

The Commission may from time to time make recommendations to any or all Contracting Governments on any matters which relate to whales or whaling and to the objectives and purposes of this Convention.

Article VII

The Contracting Government shall ensure prompt transmission to the International Bureau for Whaling Statistics at Sandefjord in Norway, or to such other body as the Commission may designate, of notifications and statistical and other information required by this Convention in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the Commission.

Article VIII

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Convention any Contracting Government may grant to any of its nationals a special permit authorizing that national to kill, take and treat whales for purposes of scientific research subject to such restrictions as to number and subject to such other conditions as the Contracting Government thinks fit, and the killing, taking, and treating of whales in accordance with the provisions of this Article shall be exempt from the operation of this Convention. Each Contracting Government shall report at once to the Commission all such authorizations which it has granted. Each Contracting Government may at any time revoke any such special permit which it has granted.

Any whales taken under these special permits shall so far as practicable be processed and the proceeds shall be dealt with in accordance with directions issued by the Government by which the permit was granted.

Each Contracting Government shall transmit to such body as may be designated by the Commission, in so far as practicable, and at intervals of not more than one year, scientific information available to that Government with respect to whales and whaling, including the results of research conducted pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article and to Article IV.

Recognizing that continuous collection and analysis of biological data in connection with the operations of factory ships and land stations are indispensable to sound and constructive management of the whale fisheries, the Contracting Governments will take all practicable measures to obtain such data.

Article IX

Each Contracting Government shall take appropriate measures to ensure the application of the provisions of this Convention and the punishment of infractions against the said provisions in operations carried out by persons or by vessels under its jurisdiction.

No bonus or other remuneration calculated with relation to the results of their work shall be paid to the gunners and crews of whale catchers in respect of any whales the taking of which is forbidden by this Convention.

Prosecution for infractions against or contraventions of this Convention shall be instituted by the Government having jurisdiction over the offence.

Each Contracting Government shall transmit to the Commission full details of each infraction of the provisions of this Convention by persons or vessels under the jurisdiction of that Government as reported by its inspectors. This information shall include a statement of measures taken for dealing with the infraction and of penalties imposed.

Article X

This Convention shall be ratified and the instruments of ratifications shall be deposited with the Government of the United States of America.

Any Government which has not signed this Convention may adhere thereto after it enters into force by a notification in writing to the Government of the United States of America.

The Government of the United States of America shall inform all other signatory Governments and all adhering Governments of all ratifications deposited and adherences received.

This Convention shall, when instruments of ratification have been deposited by at least six signatory Governments, which shall include the Governments of the Netherlands, Norway, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America, enter into force with respect to those Governments and shall enter into force with respect to each Government which subsequently ratifies or adheres on the date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification or the receipt of its notification of adherence.

The provisions of the Schedule shall not apply prior to 1st July, 1948. Amendments to the Schedule adopted pursuant to Article V shall not apply prior to 1st July, 1949.

Article XI

Any Contracting Government may withdraw from this Convention on 30th June, of any year by giving notice on or before 1st January, of the same year to the depository Government, which upon receipt of such a notice shall at once communicate it to the other Contracting Governments. Any other Contracting Government may, in like manner, within one month of the receipt of a copy of such a notice from the depository Government give notice of withdrawal, so that the Convention shall cease to be in force on 30th June, of the same year with respect to the Government giving such notice of withdrawal.

The Convention shall bear the date on which it is opened for signature and shall remain open for signature for a period of fourteen days thereafter.

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In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorized, have signed this Convention.

Done in Washington this second day of December, 1946, in the English language, the original of which shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of the United States of America. The Government of the United States of America shall transmit certified copies thereof to all the other signatory and adhering Governments.

SIGNATORIES:

FOR ARGENTINA: Oscar Ivanissevich, José Manuel Moneta, Guillermo Brown, Pedro H. Bruno Videla

FOR AUSTRALIA: Francis F. Anderson

FOR BRAZIL: Paulo Fróes da Cruz

FOR CANADA: H.H. Wrong, H.A. Scott

FOR CHILE: Augustín R. Edwards

FOR DENMARK: Peter Friedrich Erichsen

FOR FRANCE: Francis Lacoste

FOR THE NETHERLANDS: D.J. van Dijk

FOR NEW ZEALAND: Guy Richardson Powles

FOR NORWAY: Birger Bergersen

FOR PERU: Carlos Rotalde

FOR THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS: Alexander S. Bogdanov, Eugine I. Nikishin

FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND: A.T.A. Dobson, J. Thomson

FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Remington Kellogg, Ira N. Gabrielson, William E.S. Flory

FOR THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA: H.T. Andrews

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THE PROTOCOL

WASHINGTON, 19TH NOVEMBER 1956

Protocol to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling Signed at Washington under date of December 2, 1946

The Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling signed at Washington under date of 2nd December, 1946 which Convention is hereinafter referred to as the 1946 Whaling Convention, desiring to extend the application of that Convention to helicopters and other aircraft and to include provisions on methods of inspection among those Schedule provisions which may be amended by the Commission, agree as follows:

Article I

Subparagraph 3 of the Article II of the 1946 Whaling Convention shall be amended to read as follows:

Article II

Article III

This Protocol shall be open for signature and ratification or for adherence on behalf of any Contracting Government to the 1946 Whaling Convention.

This Protocol shall enter into force on the date upon which instruments of ratification have been deposited with, or written notifications of adherence have been received by, the Government of the United States of America on behalf of all the Contracting Governments to the 1946 Whaling Convention.

The Government of the United States of America shall inform all Governments signatory or adhering to the 1946 Whaling Convention of all ratifications deposited and adherences received.

This Protocol shall bear the date on which it is opened for signature and shall remain open for signature for a period of fourteen days thereafter, following which period it shall be open for adherence.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized, have signed this Protocol.

DONE in Washington this nineteenth day of November, 1956, in the English Language, the original of which shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of the United States of America. The Government of the United States of America shall transmit certified copies thereof to all Governments signatory or adhering to the 1946 Whaling Convention.

SIGNATORIES:

FOR CHILE: Augustín R. Edwards

FOR PERU: Carlos Rotalde

FOR ARGENTINA: Oscar Ivanissevich, José Manuel Moneta, Guillermo Brown, Pedro H. Bruno Videla

FOR DENMARK: Peter Friedrich Erichsen

FOR THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS: Alexander S. Bogdanov, Eugine I. Nikishin

FOR AUSTRALIA: Francis F. Anderson

FOR FRANCE: Francis Lacoste

FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND: A.T.A. Dobson, J. Thomson

FOR BRAZIL: Paulo Fróes da Cruz

FOR THE NETHERLANDS: Guy Richardson Powles

FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Remington Kellogg, Ira N. Gabrielson, William E.S. Flory

FOR CANADA: H.H. Wrong, H.A. Scott

FOR NEW ZEALAND: Birger Bergersen

FOR THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA: H.T. Andrews