国際捕鯨取締条約8条1項は、科学調査のための加盟国の国民への捕鯨の特別許可を認めている("any contracting government may grant to any of its nationals a special permit authorizing that national to kill,take,and treat whales for purposes of scientific research subject to such restrictions as to number and subject to such other conditions as the contracting government thinks fit.")。