IWC advisering (WOT-04-009-047.01, WOT-04-009-037, WOT-04-009-004, WOT-04-003-003)

The IWC is an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) with about 88 member states. The International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) was signed in 1948. This treaty mainly served to regulate whaling. Nowadays, the protection of all cetacean species worldwide is an equally important goal.

There has also been a moratorium on commercial whaling since 1982, although whales are still being caught. This then takes place within scientific, commercial and/or aboriginal subsistence whaling.

 

The Netherlands is a member of the IWC in order for the government to collaborate regionally and influence international policy and management of small cetaceans. The Netherlands takes a pro-protection position in the IWC. The Dutch state is represented in the IWC by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.

The instruments for the Netherlands to co-steer international policy are: Dutch participation in the Scientific Committee (SC), where scientific advice on all whale species is drawn up, and input of the Netherlands to the Commission meeting. WMR advises and supports LNV in this.