Whale conservation is the important work around the world to protect and keep whale populations safe. These whales have faced dangers in the past because of human actions, especially whaling. People today discuss different opinions and ideas about how to protect whales, including topics like studying whales for science, traditions involving whales, the cost of protecting them, and whether it is right to hunt whales. Conservation efforts use methods such as laws to protect whales, saving their homes in the ocean, and reducing dangers like getting caught in fishing nets or polluted water. These efforts rely on teamwork between countries and scientific studies to help keep ocean life healthy and balance the environment.

Conservation status

Before the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was created in 1946, whaling without rules caused many whale populations to shrink greatly, and some whale species became very close to extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reports that the Atlantic population of gray whales disappeared around the start of the 18th century. Evidence from bones found in England and Sweden shows that an Atlantic group of gray whales existed until at least 1675. Radiocarbon dating of old bones supports this, and whaling is believed to be the reason for their extinction.

Whaling and other dangers have caused at least five of the 13 great whale species to be listed as endangered. A ban on whaling that began in the 1960s has helped some whale species recover. According to IUCN's Cetacean Specialist Group (CSG), "Some southern right whale populations, humpback whales in many areas, gray whales in the eastern North Pacific, and blue whales in the eastern North Pacific and central North Atlantic have started to recover." Populations of many other whale species are also growing.

However, some whale species, like the common minke whale, have never been considered endangered.

People who oppose whaling say that returning to large-scale commercial whaling might cause economic problems to take priority over protecting whales. There is an ongoing discussion about how to describe the current status of each whale species. Conservationists are happy that the sei whale remains listed as endangered, but Japan claims that the number of sei whales in the North Pacific increased from 9,000 in 1978 to about 28,000 in 2002. Japan argues that catching 50 sei whales each year is safe and that the endangered classification for the North Pacific population should be reviewed.

Some North Atlantic countries recently say that fin whales should no longer be listed as endangered and criticize the list for being incorrect. IUCN has recorded studies showing more than 40,000 fin whales live in the North Atlantic near Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. There is no information about fin whales in areas outside the North Atlantic, where they are still listed as endangered.

A full list of whale conservation statuses as listed by the IUCN is provided below. Note that for blue and gray whales, the IUCN separates the statuses of different populations. These groups, though not considered separate species, are important for conservation.

• The Atlantic population of gray whales became extinct in the late 17th century. It is not included on the IUCN Red List.

Intelligence

Some people believe whales should not be killed because they are very smart. Supporters of whaling argue that pigs are also smart, yet pigs are often killed and eaten, and that intelligence should not decide if an animal is acceptable to eat.

Many whale species have large brains, but these brains are not as large compared to their body size as those of some land animals. Fin whales, humpback whales, and sperm whales have a type of brain cell called spindle neurons. Scientists are still learning about the role of these cells. Spindle neurons are found in some other highly intelligent species, including humans, great apes, bottlenose dolphins, and elephants.

Animal rights

The main idea of the animal rights movement is that animals have basic needs that should be acknowledged, thoughtfully considered, and protected. Supporters of this movement believe these needs give animals both moral and legal rights. Because of this, humans have an ethical responsibility to reduce or stop causing harm to animals, just as they do to avoid harming other humans. People should not use animals for food, clothing, experiments, or entertainment. Supporters of whaling in Japan argue that trying to change Japan's traditions is similar to if Hindus tried to create a global rule against killing cows.

Threats

Whaling is the practice of hunting whales for their meat, oil, and blubber. Large-scale whaling began in the 17th century and continued into the 20th century. Because so many whales were hunted, many species became endangered. In 1986, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned commercial whaling to help whale populations recover.

Whales are often killed at sea using explosive harpoons, which pierce the whale’s skin and then explode inside its body. Some groups argue this method is cruel, especially if hunters are not experienced, because a whale may take minutes or even hours to die. In 2003, a group called Whalewatch, which includes 140 conservation and animal welfare organizations from 55 countries, published a report called Troubled Waters. The report stated that whales cannot be guaranteed to die quickly during hunting and that all whaling should stop. It cited data showing that 20% of Norwegian-caught whales and 60% of Japanese-caught whales did not die immediately after being harpooned. In 2008, another report compared whaling practices to guidelines for killing farm animals, concluding that whaling is less humane.

John Opdahl, a representative from the Norwegian embassy in London, said Norway works with the IWC to develop humane whaling methods. He claimed that the time it takes for a whale to die after being shot in the blowhole is similar to the time it takes for animals killed during safari hunting. Supporters of whaling also argue that the free-roaming lifestyle of whales, followed by a quick death, is less cruel than the long-term suffering of animals in factory farms.

In response to the UK’s opposition to resuming commercial whaling, pro-whaling groups like the High North Alliance pointed out that some anti-whaling countries allow practices that are less humane. For example, the UK allows the commercial hunting of deer without meeting the same standards as slaughterhouses. Fox hunting, where dogs chase and injure foxes, is legal in several anti-whaling countries. Pro-whalers argue that these examples show the cruelty argument is based on cultural differences rather than consistent animal welfare standards.

Since 1986, Japan has continued whaling under the claim of scientific research, using permits to hunt whales for "lethal sampling." Japan’s JARPA program aims to study whale populations in the Antarctic Ocean to support sustainable whaling. Critics argue that selling whale meat to fund research is a cover for illegal whaling. The IWC requires data on whale populations, which opponents say can be gathered without killing whales.

Lethal sampling is used to study whale age and diet. Whale age can be determined by examining growth rings in ear plugs found in the head of dead whales. Japan initially argued that population numbers alone could determine sustainable hunting levels, but opponents say more detailed data on age and sex distribution is needed. Some scientists, like Nick Gales, say lethal sampling is not necessary for setting catch limits, while Japanese officials claim more data is needed to reduce uncertainty about whale populations.

Dietary habits are studied by opening the stomachs of whales. Opponents say this can also be done by analyzing feces or taking biopsies from living whales. Supporters argue that biopsies only show the type of food eaten, not specific species, and that feces analysis is less accurate.

The IWC Scientific Committee has acknowledged the usefulness of data collected by Japan’s JARPA program. In 2008, the IWC praised the quality of Japan’s data but suggested improvements in analysis.

In 2010, Australia asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to stop Japan’s scientific whaling. New Zealand later joined the case. In 2014, the ICJ ruled that Japan’s whaling in the Antarctic was not for scientific purposes.

There is ongoing debate about the ethics and environmental impact of whaling. Conservationists focus on sustainability, animal welfare, and the role of whales in marine ecosystems. The IWC’s 1986 ban on commercial whaling and the use of lethal sampling for research remain controversial. Some argue whaling helps manage fish populations, while others say it harms the environment.

The whale watching industry and anti-whaling groups claim that whaling targets curious whales near boats, which are easier to catch. They argue that the economic benefits of tourism, such as hotels and restaurants, outweigh the profits from whaling.

Conservation groups

The whaling industry was first helped by the governments of countries that hunted whales. In 1946, the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling was created to control whaling activities. In 1949, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was formed to help keep whale populations safe.

Concerns about over-hunting, the risk of whales becoming extinct, and the public’s interest in whales led to a campaign called "Save the Whales." This campaign raised awareness about the challenges whales faced. In 1971, groups like the American Cetacean Society, Ocean Alliance, the Whale Center, and the Connecticut Cetacean Society began working to protect whales. Later, organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund, National Wildlife Federation, Humane Society of the United States, Sierra Club, and National Audubon Society joined the effort.

Many other groups and governments have supported whale conservation for a long time. In 1975, Greenpeace started a campaign against whaling. In 1977, Paul Watson, a former Greenpeace member, created the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Sea Shepherd uses direct action methods on the ocean to stop whaling and other illegal activities. The group’s ships, called Neptune’s Navy, aim to protect marine life by stopping harmful actions.

In the Atlantic Ocean, the Atlantic Whale and Dolphin Foundation (AWDF) has worked for 23 years to protect whales and dolphins. The AWDF started the Atlantic Ocean Cetacean Network (AOCN), which connects people and groups across the Atlantic region to help conserve whales and dolphins. The AOCN provides a free platform to share ideas, find volunteers, and get funding and expert advice for conservation efforts.

In 1982, the IWC banned commercial whaling due to pressure from member countries. By 1994, the IWC had created the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary in Antarctica to protect whales and their breeding areas.

The television series Whale Wars, which aired in 2008 and featured Sea Shepherd, showed the challenges faced in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and the conflicts with Japanese whaling ships. Sea Shepherd’s direct actions have helped save thousands of whales from whaling quotas. Both Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd have drawn attention to the debate over commercial whaling.