國際捕鯨委員會

1931年，世界上第一個《國際捕鯨公約》簽署。1946年，《國際管制捕鯨公約》簽訂。1948年，國際捕鯨委員會（IWC）成立，加入國際捕鯨委員會的會員國必須承認《國際管制捕鯨公約》。每個會員國指派委員，並接受專家和顧問的指導。國際捕鯨委員會現有61個會員國，中國也是會員之一。日本於1951年加入國際捕鯨委員會。捕鯨國加拿大則曾經加入，現在已經退出從而不受該委員會限制。

1972年聯合國人類環境大會作出決議，呼籲禁止10年商業捕鯨。國際捕鯨委員會1983年規定全面禁止商業捕鯨行為。

1986年《禁止捕鯨公約》生效，每年被捕殺的鯨魚數量從2.2萬頭下降到2700頭。此外，國際捕鯨委員會分別於1979年和1994年建立了印度洋鯨類保護區和南大洋鯨類保護區。自頒布商業捕鯨禁令20年來，美、英、法、德、澳等大多數國家始終反對捕鯨。但由於《國際捕鯨公約》的第8條規定，任何國家可以根據科學目的擊殺或者捕撈鯨，並應充分利用鯨的身體各部分。這給日本等國提供了捕鯨的合法理由。

國際捕鯨委員會1946年12月2日根據《國際捕鯨公約》在華盛頓成立，其宗旨和任務是：調查鯨的數量；制定捕撈和保護太平洋鯨藏量的措施如確定鯨的保護品種和非保護品種、開放期和禁捕期、開放水域和禁捕水域、捕撈時間和工具等；對捕鯨業進行嚴格的國際監督。國際捕鯨委員會1986年通過了《全球禁止捕鯨公約》，嚴格禁止商業捕鯨。

2004年7月17日國際捕鯨委員會57國代表於義大利索論托舉行4天會議，會議通過決議，不提前恢復商業捕鯨。

2006年，該委員會大會通過了一項支持恢復商業捕鯨的議案，但由於推翻1986年的商業捕鯨禁令需要得到委員會75%以上成員的支持，因此商業捕鯨禁令目前依然有效。

中國、丹麥、巴西、印度、多米尼加、百慕大、西班牙、貝里斯、委內瑞拉、法國、肯亞、芬蘭、阿根廷、南非、美國、英國、哥斯大黎加、挪威、格瑞納達、秘魯、索羅門、紐西蘭、荷蘭、智利、塞內加爾、奧地利、愛爾蘭、瑞士、瑞典、聖文森、德國、摩納哥、墨西哥、澳洲、蘇聯（現在的俄羅斯）

2018年12月25日，日本政府在內閣會議上同意退出國際捕鯨委員會，並將在26日正式宣布這一決定。日媒表示，這意味著日本在近30年後將重啟商業捕鯨活動，此舉必定會遭到來自國際社會的批評。

據日本共同通信社等媒體報道，日本官房長官菅義偉26日上午會正式宣布這一決定，這將是日本在1988年停止商業捕鯨后，時隔近30年發生的重大捕鯨政策變化。日媒指出，如果在1月1日前告知國際捕鯨委員會，日本最早在2019年6月30日後，就可以重啟商業捕鯨活動。

在今年9月的國際捕鯨委員會大會上，日本提案稱要再次展開捕鯨活動，但遭到了否決。目前，以日本為代表的支持捕鯨國家，和以澳大利亞為代表的反對捕鯨國家呈現膠著對立狀態。日本方面表示，如果一直在國際捕鯨委員會裡膠著，很難再次展開商業捕鯨活動，因此要在今年內退出國際捕鯨委員會。

9月10日，國際捕鯨委員會大會在巴西召開。日方在會上提出要恢復商業捕鯨，可以捕撈小鬚鯨等一部分資源豐富的鯨種。但國際捕鯨委員會以41票反對、27票贊成的投票結果，否決了日方恢復商業捕鯨的提案。

國際捕鯨管理公約的執行機構。該公約於1946年締結，1948年開始生效。各國接受科學小組委員會就控制捕鯨數目所作的勸告，並由該委員會會議作出決定。該機構工作的目的：一方面為防止鯨類減少而實行控制，另一方面是協調行業內各國及各部門的利益。

1972年開始限制獵捕種類，但仍受到自然保護潮流的強烈批評。在歐美各國，委員會成員國逐漸從代錶行業轉為代表輿論，捕鯨面臨停止狀態。1977年以後各捕鯨國處於孤立地位。

1982年委員會作出了暫時停止捕鯨的決議，本委員會的性質、宗旨也發生重大變化。停止捕鯨，對保護鯨類、維持地球生態平衡無疑具有重要意義。

國際捕鯨委員會負責監督評估世界各國捕鯨魚之數量及種類，是否符合公約之有關規定。這些規定包括完全禁止捕捉若干頻臨絕種之珍貴鯨魚，將若干水域劃為鯨魚保護區，規定捕鯨魚之數目及大小，規定開放及禁止捕捉鯨魚之季節及水域，同時嚴格禁止捕捉尚未斷乳的幼鯨及陪同幼鯨的母鯨。公約也規定必須申報捕鯨魚的數目、種類及其他有關資料。但對於提出內容異議的國家無效。

除此之外，國際捕鯨委員會也鼓勵並參與有關鯨魚之研究，發表研究鯨魚的科學論文，提倡以更人道的方式進行宰殺鯨魚的工作。

任何願意遵守國際捕鯨管制公約的國家均可加入國際捕鯨委員會。每個會員國由一位委員出任代表，他可獲得數位專家及顧問的協助。

IWC是國際捕鯨委員會（International Whaling Commission）的英文縮寫。這是一個被聯合國認可，負責保護鯨類及管理捕鯨行業的政府間機構。

1946年，全球海域中的商業捕鯨活動達到歷史上的最高峰，鯨類的命運岌岌可危，以國家為成員的IWC由此應運而生。每屆IWC總會引起全世界鯨類保護者們的特別關注，因為通過這個機構，在陸地上行走的人類將決定大洋里體積最龐大的鯨類的命運。

迄今（2006年）決議已上演了不止一次：1986年，IWC通過決案叫停全球範圍內的商業捕鯨活動；1994年，各國在IWC年會上投票以23：1壓倒性優勢通過將擁有80%鯨類總量的南大洋定為鯨類禁獵區，那張唯一反對票便是來自捕鯨大國日本。國際捕鯨委員會理應為鯨類，而不是為捕鯨國服務。但自1994年後至今（2006年）中“捕鯨派”的增多，情勢急轉直下。

2006年，在日本的帶動下，IWC年會暗流涌動，日本提出的取締南大洋禁獵區議案的投票結果是28：33。雖然議案未獲通過，但如此微弱的差距是IWC歷史上前所未有的。更為危急的是， 《聖基茨宣言》最終以33：32一票的優勢通過，該份宣言提出的“正常化”主張，實際上是想通過改革國際捕鯨委員，來打壓國際環保組織在保護鯨類法案上的影響力並對今後國際捕鯨委員會為政府間機構，1946年，建立在《國際管制捕鯨公約》的基礎之上，負責保護鯨類及管理捕鯨行業。它的成立是由於人們清楚認識到捕鯨造成鯨的數量急劇下降，並希望能夠控制這種勢頭。任何《國際管制捕鯨公約》的締約國都可加入國際捕鯨委員會，2008年包含72個成員國。要獲得投票權，成員國必須確認自己的參會資格；其次，各國要交納會費，哥斯大黎加、甘比亞、肯亞、秘魯、多哥由於未繳納會費而沒能參加2006年在聖基茨召開的會議。

1986年，國際捕鯨委員會頒布了禁止商業捕鯨令，對保護這種珍稀動物發揮了巨大作用，商業捕鯨的主要目標小鬚鯨的數量近年已經上升到數十萬頭。不過，這種趨勢可能在2006年被中止。《紐約時報》對多個國家的漁業部門高級官員進行了採訪，他們都認為，2006年捕鯨委員會大會將面臨決定性時刻，因為委員會成立60年來將首次出現支持商業捕鯨成員多過反對成員的局面。

2006年，支持商業捕鯨的主要是日本、挪威和冰島，反對者主要是美國、澳大利亞和紐西蘭。共同社報道說，日本預計，委員會66個成員中，支持日本恢復商業捕鯨提案的可達33個，而明確反對的只有32個，還有1個沒表態。儘管日本要得到大會四分之三多數票才能夠廢除商業捕鯨禁令，但支持捕鯨成員一旦過半，他們就可以控制會議議程，推動就相關動議和決議展開秘密投票。共同社此前證實說，一旦所獲支持過半，日本就將動議取消保護委員會，並提出呼籲恢復商業捕鯨的決議案。國際愛護動物基金會官員韋斯通說，如果國際捕鯨委員會立場變為支持商業捕鯨，整個保護工作將被中斷，日本、挪威和冰島等國將更有理由放手捕鯨。這三個國家已經宣布，計劃2008年前將捕鯨數量由目前的每年2395頭增加到3215頭。同時，另外一些小國也會加入捕鯨者行列。“現有鯨的數量根本不足以承受恢復商業捕鯨帶來的壓力。”韋斯通說，在過去100多年中，商業捕鯨幾乎造成鯨的滅絕，1920年時世界上還有25萬頭藍鯨和60萬頭長鬚鯨，2006年時只剩當時的4%和8%。

原文

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE REGULATION OF WHALING

WASHINGTON, 2ND DECEMBER, 1946

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;

Have agreed as follows:-

Article I

This Convention includes the Schedule attached thereto which forms an integral part thereof. All references to "Convention" shall be understood as including the said Schedule either in its present terms or as amended in accordance with the provisions of Article V.

This Convention applies to factory ships, land stations, and whale catchers under the jurisdiction of the Contracting Governments and to all waters in which whaling is prosecuted by such factory ships, land stations, and whale catchers.

Article II

As used in this Convention:-

"Factory ship" means a ship in which or on which whales are treated either wholly or in part;

"Land station" means a factory on the land at which whales are treated whether wholly or in part;

"Whale catcher" means a ship used for the purpose of hunting, taking, towing, holding on to, or scouting for whales;

"Contracting Government" means any Government which has deposited an instrument of ratification or has given notice of adherence to this Convention.

Article III

The Contracting Governments agree to establish an International Whaling Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, to be composed of one member from each Contracting Government. Each member shall have one vote and may be accompanied by one or more experts and advisers.

The Commission shall elect from its own members a Chairman and Vice-Chairman and shall determine its own Rules of Procedure. Decisions of the Commission shall be taken by a simple majority of those members voting except that a three-fourths majority of those members voting shall be required for action in pursuance of Article V. The Rules of Procedure may provide for decisions otherwise than at meetings of the Commission.

The Commission may appoint its own Secretary and staff.

The Commission may set up, from among its own members and experts or advisers, such committees as it considers desirable to perform such functions as it may authorize.

The expenses of each member of the Commission and of his experts and advisers shall be determined by his own Government.

Recognizing that specialized agencies related to the United Nations will be concerned with the conservation and development of whale fisheries and the products arising therefrom and desiring to avoid duplication of functions, the Contracting Governments will consult among themselves within two years after the coming into force of this Convention to decide whether the Commission shall be brought within the framework of a specialized agency related to the United Nations.

In the meantime the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland shall arrange, in consultation with the other Contracting Governments, to convene the first meeting of the Commission, and shall initiate the consultation referred to in paragraph 6 above.

Subsequent meetings of the Commission shall be convened as the Commission may determine.

Article IV

The Commission may either in collaboration with or through independent agencies of the Contracting Governments or other public or private agencies, establishments, or organizations, or independently; (a) encourage, recommend, or if necessary, organize studies and investigations relating to whales and whaling; (b)collect and analyze statistical information concerning the current condition and trend of the whale stocks and the effects of whaling activities thereon; (c)study, appraise, and disseminate information concerning methods of maintaining and increasing the populations of whale stocks.

The Commission shall arrange for the publication of reports of its activities, and it may publish independently or in collaboration with the International Bureau for Whaling Statistics at Sandefjord in Norway and other organizations and agencies such reports as it deems appropriate, as well as statistical, scientific, and other pertinent information relating to whales and whaling.

Article V

The Commission may amend from time to time the provisions of the Schedule by adopting regulations with respect to the conservation and utilization of whale resources, fixing (a) protected and unprotected species; (b) open and closed seasons; (c) open and closed waters, including the designation of sanctuary areas; (d) size limits for each species; (e) time, methods, and intensity of whaling (including the maximum catch of whales to be taken in any one season); (f) types and specifications of gear and apparatus and appliances which may be used; (g) methods of measurement; and (h) catch returns and other statistical and biological records.

These amendments of the Schedule (a) shall be such as are necessary to carry out the objectives and purposes of this Convention and to provide for the conservation, development, and optimum utilization of the whale resources; (b) shall be based on scientific findings; (c) shall not involve restrictions on the number or nationality of factory ships or land stations, nor allocate specific quotas to any factory ship or land station or to any group of factory ships or land stations; and (d) shall take into consideration the interests of the consumers of whale products and the whaling industry.

Each of such amendments shall become effective with respect to the Contracting Governments ninety days following notification of the amendment by the Commission to each of the Contracting Governments, except that (a) if any Government presents to the Commission objection to any amendment prior to the expiration of this ninety-day period, the amendment shall not become effective with respect to any of the Governments for an additional ninety days; (b) thereupon, any other Contracting Government may present objection to the amendment at any time prior to the expiration of the additional ninety-day period, or before the expiration of thirty days from the date of receipt of the last objection received during such additional ninety-day period, whichever date shall be the later; and (c) thereafter, the amendment shall become effective with respect to all Contracting Governments which have not presented objection but shall not become effective with respect to any Government which has so objected until such date as the objection is withdrawn. The Commission shall notify each Contracting Government immediately upon receipt of each objection and withdrawal and each Contracting Government shall acknowledge receipt of all notifications of amendments, objections, and withdrawals.

No amendments shall become effective before 1st July, 1949.

Article VI

The Commission may from time to time make recommendations to any or all Contracting Governments on any matters which relate to whales or whaling and to the objectives and purposes of this Convention.

Article VII

The Contracting Government shall ensure prompt transmission to the International Bureau for Whaling Statistics at Sandefjord in Norway, or to such other body as the Commission may designate, of notifications and statistical and other information required by this Convention in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the Commission.

Article VIII

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Convention any Contracting Government may grant to any of its nationals a special permit authorizing that national to kill, take and treat whales for purposes of scientific research subject to such restrictions as to number and subject to such other conditions as the Contracting Government thinks fit, and the killing, taking, and treating of whales in accordance with the provisions of this Article shall be exempt from the operation of this Convention. Each Contracting Government shall report at once to the Commission all such authorizations which it has granted. Each Contracting Government may at any time revoke any such special permit which it has granted.

Any whales taken under these special permits shall so far as practicable be processed and the proceeds shall be dealt with in accordance with directions issued by the Government by which the permit was granted.

Each Contracting Government shall transmit to such body as may be designated by the Commission, in so far as practicable, and at intervals of not more than one year, scientific information available to that Government with respect to whales and whaling, including the results of research conducted pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article and to Article IV.

Recognizing that continuous collection and analysis of biological data in connection with the operations of factory ships and land stations are indispensable to sound and constructive management of the whale fisheries, the Contracting Governments will take all practicable measures to obtain such data.

Article IX

Each Contracting Government shall take appropriate measures to ensure the application of the provisions of this Convention and the punishment of infractions against the said provisions in operations carried out by persons or by vessels under its jurisdiction.

No bonus or other remuneration calculated with relation to the results of their work shall be paid to the gunners and crews of whale catchers in respect of any whales the taking of which is forbidden by this Convention.

Prosecution for infractions against or contraventions of this Convention shall be instituted by the Government having jurisdiction over the offence.

Each Contracting Government shall transmit to the Commission full details of each infraction of the provisions of this Convention by persons or vessels under the jurisdiction of that Government as reported by its inspectors. This information shall include a statement of measures taken for dealing with the infraction and of penalties imposed.

Article X

This Convention shall be ratified and the instruments of ratifications shall be deposited with the Government of the United States of America.

Any Government which has not signed this Convention may adhere thereto after it enters into force by a notification in writing to the Government of the United States of America.

The Government of the United States of America shall inform all other signatory Governments and all adhering Governments of all ratifications deposited and adherences received.

This Convention shall, when instruments of ratification have been deposited by at least six signatory Governments, which shall include the Governments of the Netherlands, Norway, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America, enter into force with respect to those Governments and shall enter into force with respect to each Government which subsequently ratifies or adheres on the date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification or the receipt of its notification of adherence.

The provisions of the Schedule shall not apply prior to 1st July, 1948. Amendments to the Schedule adopted pursuant to Article V shall not apply prior to 1st July, 1949.

Article XI

Any Contracting Government may withdraw from this Convention on 30th June, of any year by giving notice on or before 1st January, of the same year to the depository Government, which upon receipt of such a notice shall at once communicate it to the other Contracting Governments. Any other Contracting Government may, in like manner, within one month of the receipt of a copy of such a notice from the depository Government give notice of withdrawal, so that the Convention shall cease to be in force on 30th June, of the same year with respect to the Government giving such notice of withdrawal.

The Convention shall bear the date on which it is opened for signature and shall remain open for signature for a period of fourteen days thereafter.

TOP

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorized, have signed this Convention.

Done in Washington this second day of December, 1946, in the English language, the original of which shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of the United States of America. The Government of the United States of America shall transmit certified copies thereof to all the other signatory and adhering Governments.

SIGNATORIES:

FOR ARGENTINA: Oscar Ivanissevich, José Manuel Moneta, Guillermo Brown, Pedro H. Bruno Videla

FOR AUSTRALIA: Francis F. Anderson

FOR BRAZIL: Paulo Fróes da Cruz

FOR CANADA: H.H. Wrong, H.A. Scott

FOR CHILE: Augustín R. Edwards

FOR DENMARK: Peter Friedrich Erichsen

FOR FRANCE: Francis Lacoste

FOR THE NETHERLANDS: D.J. van Dijk

FOR NEW ZEALAND: Guy Richardson Powles

FOR NORWAY: Birger Bergersen

FOR PERU: Carlos Rotalde

FOR THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS: Alexander S. Bogdanov, Eugine I. Nikishin

FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND: A.T.A. Dobson, J. Thomson

FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Remington Kellogg, Ira N. Gabrielson, William E.S. Flory

FOR THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA: H.T. Andrews

TOP

THE PROTOCOL

WASHINGTON, 19TH NOVEMBER 1956

Protocol to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling Signed at Washington under date of December 2, 1946

The Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling signed at Washington under date of 2nd December, 1946 which Convention is hereinafter referred to as the 1946 Whaling Convention, desiring to extend the application of that Convention to helicopters and other aircraft and to include provisions on methods of inspection among those Schedule provisions which may be amended by the Commission, agree as follows:

Article I

Subparagraph 3 of the Article II of the 1946 Whaling Convention shall be amended to read as follows:

"3. ‘whale catcher’ means a helicopter, or other aircraft, or a ship, used for the purpose of hunting, taking, killing, towing, holding on to, or scouting for whales."

Article II

Paragraph 1 of Article V of the 1946 Whaling Convention shall be amended by deleting the word "and" preceding clause (h), substituting a semicolon for the period at the end of the paragraph, and adding the following language: "and (i) methods of inspection".

Article III

This Protocol shall be open for signature and ratification or for adherence on behalf of any Contracting Government to the 1946 Whaling Convention.

This Protocol shall enter into force on the date upon which instruments of ratification have been deposited with, or written notifications of adherence have been received by, the Government of the United States of America on behalf of all the Contracting Governments to the 1946 Whaling Convention.

The Government of the United States of America shall inform all Governments signatory or adhering to the 1946 Whaling Convention of all ratifications deposited and adherences received.

This Protocol shall bear the date on which it is opened for signature and shall remain open for signature for a period of fourteen days thereafter, following which period it shall be open for adherence.

TOP

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized, have signed this Protocol.

DONE in Washington this nineteenth day of November, 1956, in the English Language, the original of which shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of the United States of America. The Government of the United States of America shall transmit certified copies thereof to all Governments signatory or adhering to the 1946 Whaling Convention.

SIGNATORIES:

FOR CHILE: Augustín R. Edwards

FOR PERU: Carlos Rotalde

FOR ARGENTINA: Oscar Ivanissevich, José Manuel Moneta, Guillermo Brown, Pedro H. Bruno Videla

FOR DENMARK: Peter Friedrich Erichsen

FOR THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS: Alexander S. Bogdanov, Eugine I. Nikishin

FOR AUSTRALIA: Francis F. Anderson

FOR FRANCE: Francis Lacoste

FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND: A.T.A. Dobson, J. Thomson

FOR BRAZIL: Paulo Fróes da Cruz

FOR THE NETHERLANDS: Guy Richardson Powles

FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Remington Kellogg, Ira N. Gabrielson, William E.S. Flory

FOR CANADA: H.H. Wrong, H.A. Scott

FOR NEW ZEALAND: Birger Bergersen

FOR THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA: H.T. Andrews