URGENT: Sign until 27th September 2026 for a world without whaling!

From 28 September to 2 October 2026, governments will meet in Hobart, Australia, for the 70th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) — to discuss stronger protection for whales and dolphins, and to mark two milestones: 80 years of the IWC and 40 years of the global moratorium on commercial whaling.

Yet, hundreds of whales are still being slaughtered annually, despite a global ban on commercial whaling that has been in place for 40 years.

In 1982, recognising that whales were being hunted to the brink of extinction, the IWC — the global body responsible for the conservation and management of whales and whaling — agreed to a moratorium on commercial whaling, which was implemented in 1986.

40 years on, the ban is still being undermined.

The governments of three countries — Japan, Iceland and Norway — have repeatedly flouted the ban, killing more than 45,000 whales since 1986. Their actions, with the support of a group of IWC member countries, have consistently undermined the IWC’s efforts to protect and conserve whales and address the many threats that they face today.

Commercial whaling is unsustainable, inhumane and unnecessary. Whales are worth far more alive than dead —  they support thriving eco-tourism industries and play a vital role in ocean ecosystems.

After 40 years, there is no excuse!

We — the End Commercial Whaling Coalition — are calling on all governments that support or permit commercial whaling to uphold the International Whaling Commission’s moratorium and bring an end to the commercial hunting of whales — once and for all.

For more information on commercial whaling, visit our website.

This petition is supported by:

10 Percent for the Ocean
AEL Advocacy (Animal Environmental Legal Advocacy)
Animal Defenders International (ADI)
Animal Protection Party of Canada
Animal Welfare Institute (AWI)
Born Free Foundation
Bracenet
CAAWO
Captain Paul Watson Foundation UK
Center for Biological Diversity
Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG)
Centro de Conservación Cetacea (CCC)
Cet Law
Cetacean Society International (CSI)
Cetaceans.org
Code Animal
Deutsche Stiftung Meeresschutz (DSM)
Elasmocean
Endangered Species Protection Agency (ESPA)
Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) 
Fondation Franz Weber
Fundación Cethus
Fundación Conservare
Fundación Promar
Gesellschaft für Naturschutz und Auenentwicklung (GNA)
Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine (GRD)
GNA-Stiftung Mensch und Natur
Hot Pink Dolphins
Hvalavinir
Ibracan
IFAW – International Fund for Animal Welfare 
Instituto Baleia Jubarte (IBJ)
Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas (ICB)
Kyma – sea conservation & research
LegaSeas
LIA – Life Investigation Agency
MARC (Korea)
Marine Connection
M.E.E.R. e.V.
Mizu Eco-Care
No More Tanks (NMT)
NOAH – for dyrs rettigheter
Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS)
Olsen Animal Trust
One Ocean Planet
ORCA
Origami Whales Project
Pacific Whale Foundation
PETA Deutschland
Pro Wildlife 
Robin des Bois
Saltwater Science
Stiftung für das Tier im Recht (TIR)
The Corbett Foundation
Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) 
Whaleman Foundation
World Cetacean Alliance (WCA)
World Federation for Animals (WFA)
World Saving Hustle