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IWC - International Whaling Commission

The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling regulates whaling worldwide and ensures sustainable use of stocks. The FSVO represents Switzerland on the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and is its enforcement authority.

The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling was signed in 1946. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is responsible for its implementation. The Commission currently has 88 member states. Each member is represented by a commissioner who is in turn advised by experts.

The members meet every two years. The FSVO represents Switzerland on the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and is its enforcement authority. Bruno Mainini, Head of Species Conservation with the FSVO, chaired the IWC for a two-year term from 2014 to 2016. This reinforced Switzerland's mediating role on the committee.

Decisions taken by the IWC are science-based. Measures include full protection of certain species, the establishment of whale sanctuaries and the definition of hunting seasons and catch limits for some species.

The position of Switzerland

As a land-locked country, Switzerland seeks in particular to act as a reliable mediator when the opinions of the IWC's 88 member states diverge.

Switzerland supports the continuation of protective measures for endangered whale species. The country agrees with the resumption of very limited commercial whaling in specified geographic areas in certain cases, if it is scientifically demonstrated that this does not jeopardise the existence of the species in question or the ecosystem. There must also be a guarantee that quotas will be monitored effectively.

Switzerland also believes that management of the so-called small whale species (e.g. narwhals, beluga whales and bottlenose dolphins) should fall under the remit of the IWC. It also supports the establishment of new whale sanctuaries, provided the applications for such sanctuaries are scientifically justified and sanctioned by all coastal states. Switzerland is prepared to contribute to pollutant reduction and supports research into the impact of harmful environmental factors on whales.