WHEREAS Canada withdrew from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1982, stating “it no
longer has any direct interest in the whaling industry or in the related activities of the IWC”;
NOTING that Canadian representation has been limited to Observer Status at annual IWC meetings since then;
WHEREAS Canada issued its first license to take one bowhead whale in 1991 in the western Arctic from the
Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort bowhead whale stock and then has continued to issue such licenses on a regular
basis;
WHEREAS Canada issued its first license to take one bowhead whale in 1996 from the Hudson Bay-Foxe
Basin stock and one whale was landed;
WHEREAS the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board has again requested that the Government of Canada
authorize the landing of one bowhead whale from the Davis Strait/Baffin Bay stock;
NOW THEREFORE THE COMMISSION:
Reaffirms its opposition to all whaling not conducted under the International Convention for the Regulation of
Whaling (ICRW);
Invites the Government of Canada to rejoin the IWC and, in the meantime, not to issue further licenses for any
whaling not conducted under the ICRW.

CONCERNED that the laws of some Contracting Governments have been violated by international
organisations having or seeking observer status in the IWC.
CONCERNED that some Contracting Governments of the IWC, in particular small developing countries, have
received threats of economic coercion and threats against individuals, due to the policies expressed in this
organisation.
AWARE of the fragile nature of the economies in small developing countries making them particularly
vulnerable to threats of economic boycott.
WISHING to address the concerns voiced in a constructive and effective manner.
DECIDES that the Advisory Committee consider the following addition to the Rules of Procedure and report
to the 51st Annual Meeting:
“The accreditation of an international organisation referred to in [Rule of Procedure] C.1.(b) would be subject
to immediate review and decision upon submission to the IWC by a Contracting Government of legal evidence
that such an organisation has violated the laws of the Contracting Government or has threatened any
individual; or upon submission of documentation that such an organisation has caused economic hardship to
the Contracting Government because of participation or views expressed in the IWC.”