International Whaling Commission (IWC)
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is responsible for the worldwide conservation and sustainable use of whale stocks. The FSVO represents Switzerland in the IWC and actively supports whale conservation through appropriate measures.
What is the IWC?
The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) was signed in 1946. The International Whaling Commission is responsible for implementing it. Each member state is represented by a Commissioner who is advised by experts.
The members meet every two years. Switzerland is represented in the IWC by the FSVO, which is also the enforcement authority, and has previously chaired the Commission. This reinforced Switzerland’s mediating role within this international body.
The IWC makes decisions that are backed by scientific evidence. For example, it can:
- confer complete protection of certain species,
- designate specific areas as whale sanctuaries,
- prescribe hunting seasons, and
- define culling quotas for specific species.
IWC – International Whaling Commission
The IWC and Switzerland
Switzerland seeks to act as a reliable mediator – particularly in cases when the IWC member states struggle to reach agreement.
Switzerland supports the continuation of protective measures for endangered whale species. It only agrees with the resumption of limited commercial whaling in clearly designated geographical areas if there is scientific evidence that this does not endanger the species in question or the ecosystem. The hunting quotas must also be monitored effectively.
Switzerland believes that management of ‘small cetaceans’ (e.g. narwhals, beluga whales and bottlenose dolphins) should also fall under the remit of the IWC.
It is also involved in a number of areas:
- It supports the establishment of new whale sanctuaries, provided the applications for such sanctuaries are scientifically justified and supported by all coastal states.
- It champions the rights of indigenous peoples to the traditional and sustainable use of certain whale species.
- It also promotes research projects on the impact of harmful environmental factors on whales.