The 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling enacted by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) saved several whale species from extinction and allowed some populations to recover.

Despite the global ban, Japan, Norway and Iceland continue commercial whaling. Propped up by government subsidies and support, commercial whaling flies in the face of international environmental agreements while serving no economic or nutritional purpose. Furthermore, whales, dolphins and porpoises now face grave and growing threats from a range of additional human activities, from climate change to pollution.

It is time for commercial whaling to end for good. IWC members must strongly reaffirm the continuation of the moratorium and promote to the fullest extent the conservation of all whales.