The 45th annual meeting of the International whaling commission. © Greenpeace

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) was established in 1946 to "provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks" and "thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry." By that time, the whaling industry had already severely depleted many of the world's great whale populations. Gray, Bowhead and Right whales were already considered commercially extinct. Yet it was not until 1982 that members of the IWC voted to adopt a moratorium on commercial whaling that would take effect in 1986.

Today pro-whaling nations, led by Japan and Norway, are gaining ground in the IWC. More IWC members are adopting weaker positions on commercial whaling as a result of Japan and Norway's tactics. If the present trend goes unchecked, the IWC will once again sanction commercial whaling, putting the world's remaining whales at risk.