Week 8: Whaling

Whaling is discussed as a separate issue as it polarizes opinion and creates strong tensions between the countries who have an interest in the waters surrounding the Antarctic. It is not regulated by an instrument in the Antarctic Treaty System, but by a separate piece of international law.

Lecture 1: Development of Modern Whaling/Regulation of Whaling since 1946 (Dr Julia Jabour)
The discovery and exploration of the Antarctic resulted from the voyages and records of whalers and sealers who were active in the Southern Ocean during the early 1800s. They were not to know at the time the role they would play in Antarctic political affairs.

Lecture 2: The Contemporary Debate on Whaling (Dr Julia Jabour)
There are strong tensions between pro- and anti-whaling countries and these are played out each year in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meetings.

Tutorial : Whaling as an ethical issue: Do whales have a right to life?