The International Whaling Commission (IWC) was set up under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling which was signed in Washington DC on 2nd December 1946. The purpose of the Convention is to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry.
The International Whaling Commission issues permits for "research" as stated:

"As part of their response to the decision for a pause in commercial whaling, some member governments have implemented major research programmes which may include the sampling of whales caught under special permits which the Convention allows them to grant."

It is this permit which allows the whaling fleets to enter the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary and kill whales for "research" purposes.
Unless the IWC changes their laws governing the "research" of whales, the Whaling fleets will continue to be allowed to "legally" kill whales in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary.
The IWC needs to ban the killing of whales, dolphins and other cetaceans for research purposes.
The IWC needs to refuse to issue permits to countries who are in violation of IWC treaty obligations.
The IWC needs to acknowledge that the killing of Pilot Whales violates treaty obligations, and prosecute any nations that are in violation of such treaties.

Listed on this petition are some members of the IWC, as well as the IWC head office.