Whaling
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Whaling is the practice of hunting and killing whales. Whaling reached its peak in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when technological advances such as steam engines, explosive harpoons, and factory ships enabled the mass killing of whales on an industrial scale. During this period, several species of whales were hunted to the brink of extinction, such as the blue whale, the right whale, and the humpback whale. Whaling also had significant impacts on the marine ecosystem, disrupting the food chain and affecting other species.
The decline of whale populations and the growing awareness of their intelligence and social behavior led to a global movement to protect whales from further exploitation. In 1946, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was established to regulate whaling. The IWC is the main decision-making body of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, which is a legally binding agreement among its member states.
Some countries have continued to hunt whales for various reasons. Japan, Norway, and Iceland are the only three countries that still allow commercial whaling, either by leaving or ignoring the IWC.
Whales are most often killed using a primitive weapon called a harpoon. The harpoon has a grenade attached that explodes when the harpoon enters the body of the whale. It can take a very long time for some whales to die which causes additional suffering and fear.