International Whaling Commission

Hello! We are the International Whaling Commission. Our name is very long, so you can call us by our short name, the IWC. We were created a long, long time ago, in 1946. That was a time when many countries from all over the world decided to work together as a team. Our job is very important. We help take care of all the amazing whales living in the big, blue ocean. We work every day to make sure they are always safe and healthy.

How do we help the whales? We learn all about them! We have special helpers called scientists. Our scientists are like detectives for the sea. They go out on boats to watch the whales swim and play. They count how many whales they see. Counting helps us know if the whale families are growing. They also learn about where the whales travel and what food they like to eat. When we learn all these things, it helps us make smart rules to protect the whales and their ocean home.

One of the most important things we did was in 1986. We made a special rule. We decided to ask everyone to pause most whale hunting. This was like giving all the whales a long, quiet rest so they could be safe. The pause was a very good thing and helped many kinds of whales. Their families started to grow bigger and stronger again. We are still working hard today. We watch over the whales and help keep their ocean home a safe and happy place for them to live.