On the resumption of commercial whaling: the case of the minke whale in the northeast Atlantic

Abstract

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) met in Reykjavik, Iceland, in May 1991 to determine whether the five-year moratorium on commercial whaling, implemented in 1986, was to expire or be extended. Japan, Iceland and Norway sought to resume commercial whaling on stocks of fin and minke whales, which they regard as capable of supporting commercial harvest without risk of extinction. The IWC voted to extend the moratorium at least one more year. Iceland has subsequently withdrawn from the IWC, and Norway and Japan are also considering withdrawal. A bioeconomic model is constructed that might be used to manage the industry of commercial whaling is resumed. It is applied to the stock of minke whales in the northeast Atlantic. The price/cost ratio will be important in determining the optimal stock and the long-run viability of whaling. -from Authors