of the 1990s, however, Iceland reconsidered its position in the spirit of cooperation
relating to the global commons and rejoined the IWC in 2002. Much to the dismay of
many anti-whaling countries, Iceland voiced its reservation to the moratorium and
linked its whaling activities to the adoption of the RMS: it would not authorise
whaling while progress is being made on the negotiations of the RMS. Essentially,
therefore, Iceland rejoined the Commission under the assumption (or expectation)
that some form of commercial whaling would be allowed under the RMS. However,
since no progress is being made, Iceland resumed commercial whaling in 2006.
Over the years, Japan and other whaling nations have continuously pushed for
a lifting of the moratorium, but the IWC has continuously moved towards a
more stringent conservation-oriented agenda. In 2003 this was manifested in the
establishment of the Conservation Committee, whose mandate falls under the
strengthening of the conservation agenda, as was stipulated in the respective Resolution 2003-I The Berlin Initiative on Strengthening the Conservation Agenda of the
International Whaling Commission. Not surprisingly, Japan, Norway, Iceland and
some other states have refused to endorse the resolution and associated establishment of the Conservation Committee and have refrained from supporting it financially. Instead, especially Japan has continuously tabled new proposals for
resolutions or Schedule amendments, which would allow for a limited resumption
of commercial whaling, thus ultimately lifting the moratorium. This has fallen on
deaf ears for the majority of Commission members and Japan’s proposals have
failed. One of these long-term, unsuccessful attempts was the proposed introduction
of a new category of whaling: small-type coastal whaling (STCW), which was to
be placed somewhere between commercial whaling and Aboriginal Subsistence
Whaling (ASW) in that it would provide for a small quota for Japanese coastal
whalers. However, since also STCW would effectively mean a Schedule amendment
which would undermine the zero-catch quota without the adoption of the RMS, these
proposals have not been adopted by the Commission.
The last of Japan’s attempts to lift the moratorium was tabled in 2018 in
Florianópolis, Brazil. Here, Japan proposed a co-existence of different views within
the Commission and, at the same time, an associated Schedule amendment which
would provide Japan with a very limited minke whale quota for coastal whaling
purposes. This stood in stark contrast to the Brazil-proposed Florianópolis Declaration, which saw the increased strengthening of the IWC’s conservationist agenda.
Japan’s dual proposal failed while the Commission adopted the Florianópolis Declaration. Following the votes, heated debates ensued, which prompted Japan’s State
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Masaaki Taniai, to indicate Japan’s
withdrawal from the IWC by noting that in the coming months Japan had to conduct
a “fundamental reassessment of its position as a member of the IWC.”
8
On 17 December 2018, Japan officially announced its withdrawal from the
International Whaling Commission, coming into effect on 1 July 2019. This move
enables Japan to conduct whaling in its EEZ. At the same time, Japan announced that
8 Taniai (2018)
5.3 The International Whaling Commission, Whaling and Whales
99
relating to the global commons and rejoined the IWC in 2002. Much to the dismay of
many anti-whaling countries, Iceland voiced its reservation to the moratorium and
linked its whaling activities to the adoption of the RMS: it would not authorise
whaling while progress is being made on the negotiations of the RMS. Essentially,
therefore, Iceland rejoined the Commission under the assumption (or expectation)
that some form of commercial whaling would be allowed under the RMS. However,
since no progress is being made, Iceland resumed commercial whaling in 2006.
Over the years, Japan and other whaling nations have continuously pushed for
a lifting of the moratorium, but the IWC has continuously moved towards a
more stringent conservation-oriented agenda. In 2003 this was manifested in the
establishment of the Conservation Committee, whose mandate falls under the
strengthening of the conservation agenda, as was stipulated in the respective Resolution 2003-I The Berlin Initiative on Strengthening the Conservation Agenda of the
International Whaling Commission. Not surprisingly, Japan, Norway, Iceland and
some other states have refused to endorse the resolution and associated establishment of the Conservation Committee and have refrained from supporting it financially. Instead, especially Japan has continuously tabled new proposals for
resolutions or Schedule amendments, which would allow for a limited resumption
of commercial whaling, thus ultimately lifting the moratorium. This has fallen on
deaf ears for the majority of Commission members and Japan’s proposals have
failed. One of these long-term, unsuccessful attempts was the proposed introduction
of a new category of whaling: small-type coastal whaling (STCW), which was to
be placed somewhere between commercial whaling and Aboriginal Subsistence
Whaling (ASW) in that it would provide for a small quota for Japanese coastal
whalers. However, since also STCW would effectively mean a Schedule amendment
which would undermine the zero-catch quota without the adoption of the RMS, these
proposals have not been adopted by the Commission.
The last of Japan’s attempts to lift the moratorium was tabled in 2018 in
Florianópolis, Brazil. Here, Japan proposed a co-existence of different views within
the Commission and, at the same time, an associated Schedule amendment which
would provide Japan with a very limited minke whale quota for coastal whaling
purposes. This stood in stark contrast to the Brazil-proposed Florianópolis Declaration, which saw the increased strengthening of the IWC’s conservationist agenda.
Japan’s dual proposal failed while the Commission adopted the Florianópolis Declaration. Following the votes, heated debates ensued, which prompted Japan’s State
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Masaaki Taniai, to indicate Japan’s
withdrawal from the IWC by noting that in the coming months Japan had to conduct
a “fundamental reassessment of its position as a member of the IWC.”
8
On 17 December 2018, Japan officially announced its withdrawal from the
International Whaling Commission, coming into effect on 1 July 2019. This move
enables Japan to conduct whaling in its EEZ. At the same time, Japan announced that
8 Taniai (2018)
5.3 The International Whaling Commission, Whaling and Whales
99