Issue 31: December 2016
Australian Antarctic Magazine

The Government appointed Australian Antarctic Division Director, Dr Nick Gales, as Australia’s new Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in June.

Dr Gales takes up the position at a critical time in Australia’s efforts to maintain the global moratorium on commercial whaling. This year (2016) is the 30th anniversary of the moratorium and it is as important today as it was 30 years ago.

For over a decade, Dr Gales led Australia’s delegation to the IWC’s Scientific Committee — a role that culminated in him serving as a key witness in Australia’s successful case at the International Court of Justice against whaling by Japan in the Southern Ocean (Australian Antarctic Magazine 26: 6, 2014).

Dr Gales will ensure that Australia continues to be a leading voice in the IWC, advocating for a permanent end to all forms of commercial whaling, and so-called scientific whaling. Australia maintains that all information necessary for the management and conservation of whales can be obtained through non-lethal methods.