Modernisation of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

Modernisation of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) has long been proposed by some contracting states and outsiders as a way of resolving the “Whaling Dispute” within the International Whaling Commission (IWC); however, both sides of the debate have traditionally been unconvinced that they would gain enough benefit to make the process worthwhile.Since the collapse of the negotiations on the Revised Management Scheme, the pro-whalers within the IWC have pursued an agenda of “Normalisation” of the IWC in an attempt to resume sustainable commercial whaling under what they believe is the true intent and wording of the ICRW. An attractive alternative to normalisation, particularly to many anti-whalers, is the rewriting of the Convention itself to incorporate many of the elements of more modern conventions, and to remove the clauses in the ICRW which have allowed pro-whaling members of the IWC to carry out whaling operations despite the disapproval of the majority.