International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

[2] It governs the commercial, scientific, and aboriginal subsistence whaling practices of 88 member states.

The primary instrument implementing these aims is the International Whaling Commission, established by the convention as its main decision-making body.

[8] Ten states have withdrawn from the convention since its ratification: Canada, Egypt, Greece, Guatemala, Jamaica, Japan, Mauritius, the Philippines, Seychelles and Venezuela.

[9] Japan is the most recent member to withdraw, effective June 2019, so as to resume commercial whaling.

[11][12] An analysis by the Carnegie Council determined that while the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling has had "ambiguous success" owing to its internal divisions, it has nonetheless "successfully managed the historical transition from open whale hunting to highly restricted hunting.