International Whaling Commission maintains commercial whaling ban

At the 70th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Hobart, Tasmania, the ban on commercial whaling remains in effect. Despite efforts by Antigua & Barbuda and its allies to reintroduce commercial whaling, their proposals were unsuccessful.

OceanCare reported that Antigua & Barbuda acted as a disruptive force during the session, attempting to block budget increases and the adoption of the IWC budget, though both attempts failed. Additionally, a proposal to establish a large whale protection area in the South Atlantic, supported by Brazil, Gabon, and South Africa, failed to reach the required three-quarters majority by only four votes.

Other outcomes included a resolution to reduce the bycatch of small whales and dolphins in fishing nets, and ongoing discussions regarding EU-led measures to prevent ship collisions with whales.