TROUBLED WATERS - Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

• The complex social behaviour of cetaceans may mean that the killing of one animal from a social
group may have a significant effect on others. Consideration should be given to the impact of
whaling operations on the welfare of remaining individuals in the social groups targeted, and the
possible long-term effects on the culture of populations.
• When assessing the welfare potential of whale killing methods using accepted principles of humane
slaughter, it is clear that current whaling operations have a low welfare potential, and are likely to
cause severe pain and suffering in the hunted animal.
• It is appropriate that an ethical review process should be established under the auspices of the IWC,
to review the large-scale lethal whaling programmes currently being conducted under special
permit.
• International customary law and existing international treaties, recognise the need to protect
cetacean species. Such protection encompasses some welfare issues by protecting these species from
injury or harassment. It can be argued that some of these agreements also afford cetacean species a
degree of moral or ethical consideration. However, the ICRW, through its Commission (IWC)
currently fails to adequately regulate the welfare aspects of whaling operations.
Overall conclusion
Modern day whaling activities give rise to serious animal welfare concerns. A number of factors
inherent in current whaling practices render it unlikely that truly humane standards could ever be
achieved. On grounds of animal welfare alone, therefore, all whaling operations should be halted.
SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS
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