ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

Whaling: A Global Practice with a Complex History

Whaling is the hunt for whales, primarily carried out by ships known as whalers. The practice has been ongoing for thousands of years, with evidence suggesting that early humans were hunting small cetaceans as far back as 6000 BC in Korea and 3000 BC in the Arctic regions inhabited by indigenous peoples such as the Inuit.

The industry's growth was fueled by the demand for whale meat, which served various purposes including food (e.g., grindadráp in the Faroe Islands) and industrial raw materials. However, this led to a significant decline in large whale populations by the late 1980s. Many species were threatened with extinction due to overhunting.

Whales are considered highly intelligent animals, characterized by their large brains and complex social behavior. This has contributed to international controversy surrounding whaling, which is now largely regulated by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The IWC implemented a 5-year pause on commercial whaling for all whale species from 1986 onwards.

Despite this regulation, some countries continue to hunt whales, including Iceland, Japan, Norway, and North American indigenous peoples. Germany joined the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling in 1982, which has since been adopted by numerous other countries.

The history of whaling is complex, with evidence suggesting that it was practiced extensively throughout human history. Rock drawings from Korea's Bangu-Dae Petroglyphs (7000 BC) and a 3,000-year-old piece of walrus ivory depicting a whale hunt on the Chukchi Peninsula demonstrate early hunting practices in Asia.

In Europe, cave paintings show a millennia-old tradition of whaling in Scandinavia. The Eskimos in the northern polar region also traditionally hunted whales using spears thrown from kayaks.

The impact of industrial whaling has been profound, with many species facing significant declines due to overhunting. Today, only a few countries operate commercial whaling operations, and international regulations aim to conserve whale populations and mitigate their decline.

The Current State of Whaling

According to the IWC, it is challenging to provide accurate estimates for current whale populations due to ongoing hunting practices. However, conservation efforts are underway to protect these species and maintain a balance between human activities and environmental sustainability.

The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling has played a crucial role in regulating whaling practices globally. The convention's adoption by numerous countries has helped establish