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Environmental Treaties and Resource Indicators (ENTRI) -- UNEP Summary File

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    INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE REGULATION OF WHALING
                         (as amended)

Objectives
==========

    To protect all species of whales from overfishing and safeguard
for future generations the great natural resources represented by whale
stocks.  To establish a system of international regulation for the
whale fisheries to ensure proper conservation and development of whale
stocks.

Summary of provisions
======================

    (a) An International Whaling Commission established (art. 3);

    (b) The Commission to encourage research and investigation, to
collect and analyse statistical information, and to appraise and
disseminate information concerning whaling and whale stocks (art. 4);

    (c) The Commission to meet annually to adopt regulations for the
conservation and utilization of whale stocks, dealing with protected
and unprotected species, open and closed seasons, open and closed
areas, size limits for species, maximum catches for any one season,
types of gear and apparatus to be used (art. 5);

    (d) Schedule attached containing detailed regulations for whaling
(under art. 5);

    (e) Contracting Governments to take measures to enforce these
regulations, and to report any infraction to them to the Commission
(art. 9).

Membership
==========

    Any Government may adhere to the Convention by notification in
writing to the depositary Government.

                                                      Amendment

    Date of adoption                2.12.1946         19.11.1956
    Place of adoption               Washington, USA
    Date of entry into force        10.11.1948         4. 5.1959
    Language                        English
    Depositary                      United States of
                                      America

    Participant                  Entry into force      Withdrawals
    -----------                  ----------------      -----------    

    Antigua and Barbuda             21. 7.1982
    Argentina                       18. 5.1960
    Australia                       10.11.1948
    Belize                          15. 7.1982
    Brazil                           4. 1.1974          30. 6.1982
    Canada                          25. 2.1949          30. 6.1982
    Chile*                           6. 7.1979
    China                           24. 9.1980
    Costa Rica                       6. 5.1989
    Denmark                         23. 5.1950
    Dominica                        18. 6.1992
    Dominican Republic               9. 7.1981           30. 6.1983
    Ecuador*                         2. 5.1991
    Egypt                           18. 9.1981
    Finland                         23. 2.1983
    France                           3.12.1948
    Germany                          2. 7.1982
    Iceland                         10.11.1948
    India                            9. 3.1981
    Italy                            3. 2.1979
    Ireland                          2. 1.1989
    Jamaica                         15. 7.1981            30. 6.1984
    Japan                           21. 4.1951
    Kenya                            2.12.1981
    Korea, Republic of              29.12.1978
    Mauritius                       17. 6.1983
    Mexico                          30. 6.1949
    Monaco                          15. 3.1982
    Netherlands**                   14. 6.1977
    New Zealand                     15. 6.1976
    Norway                          10.11.1948
    Oman                            15. 7.1980
    Panama                          10.11.1948             30. 6.1980
    Peru                            18. 6.1979
    Philippines                     10. 8.1981
    Russian Federation              10.11.1948
    Saint Kitts and Nevis           24. 6.1992
    Saint Lucia                     29. 6.1981
    Saint Vincent and the
      Grenadines                    22. 7.1981
    Senegal                         15. 7.1982
    Seychelles                      19. 3.1979
    Solomon Islands                 18. 7.1985
    South Africa                    10.11.1948
    Spain                            6. 7.1979
    Sweden                          15. 6.1979
    Switzerland                     29. 5.1980
    United Kingdom of  
      Great Britain and  
      Northern Ireland              10.11.1948
    United States of  
      America                       10.11.1948
    Uruguay                         15. 7.1981              15.10.1990
    Venezuela                       11. 7.1991

     *  With a reservation.

    **  The Convention was extended to the Netherlands Antilles on
16.2.1982.

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