Florianopolis, Brazil: A proposal to create a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic has been defeated at a meeting in Brazil of the International Whaling Commission, amid a clash between countries that think whales can be hunted sustainably and others that want more conservation measures.

Opponents of the plan argued the science didn't support the case for a sanctuary and said that it wasn't necessary because no commercial whaling is occurring in the South Atlantic.

A proposal to create a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic has been defeated at a meeting of the IWC. Credit:AP

The measure received support from 39 countries at the meeting in Florianopolis on Tuesday with 25 opposed - falling short of the three-quarters majority to pass.

Countries such as Brazil, which proposed the measure, said it would have addressed threats to the mammals beyond whaling.