International Convention for the Regulation
of Whaling, 1946 (as amended by Protocol of
19 November 1956)
The Governments Whose Duly Authorised Representatives Have Subscribed Hereto
Recognizing the interest of the nations of the world in safeguarding for future
generations the great natural resources represented by the whale stocks;
Considering that the history of whaling has seen over-fishing of one area after
another and of one species of whale after another to such a degree that it is
essential to protect all species of whales from further over-fishing;
Recognizing that the whale stocks are susceptible of natural increases if whaling
is properly regulated, and that increases in the size of whale stocks will permit
increases in the number of whales which may be captured without endangering
these natural resources;
Recognizing that it is in the common interest to achieve the optimum level of
whale stocks as rapidly as possible without causing widespread economic and
nutritional distress;
Recognizing that in the course of achieving these objectives, whaling operations
should be confined to those species best able to sustain exploitation in order to
give an interval for recovery to certain species of whales now depleted in
numbers;
Desiring to establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries to
ensure proper and effective conservation and development of whale stocks on the
basis of the principles embodied in the provisions of the International Agreement
for the Regulation of Whaling, signed in London on 8th June, 1937, and the
protocols to that Agreement signed in London on 24th June, 1938, and 26th
November, 1945; and
Having decided to conclude a convention to provide for the proper conservation
of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling
industry;
# Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
N. Sellheim, International Marine Mammal Law,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35268-4
199
of Whaling, 1946 (as amended by Protocol of
19 November 1956)
The Governments Whose Duly Authorised Representatives Have Subscribed Hereto
Recognizing the interest of the nations of the world in safeguarding for future
generations the great natural resources represented by the whale stocks;
Considering that the history of whaling has seen over-fishing of one area after
another and of one species of whale after another to such a degree that it is
essential to protect all species of whales from further over-fishing;
Recognizing that the whale stocks are susceptible of natural increases if whaling
is properly regulated, and that increases in the size of whale stocks will permit
increases in the number of whales which may be captured without endangering
these natural resources;
Recognizing that it is in the common interest to achieve the optimum level of
whale stocks as rapidly as possible without causing widespread economic and
nutritional distress;
Recognizing that in the course of achieving these objectives, whaling operations
should be confined to those species best able to sustain exploitation in order to
give an interval for recovery to certain species of whales now depleted in
numbers;
Desiring to establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries to
ensure proper and effective conservation and development of whale stocks on the
basis of the principles embodied in the provisions of the International Agreement
for the Regulation of Whaling, signed in London on 8th June, 1937, and the
protocols to that Agreement signed in London on 24th June, 1938, and 26th
November, 1945; and
Having decided to conclude a convention to provide for the proper conservation
of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling
industry;
# Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
N. Sellheim, International Marine Mammal Law,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35268-4
199