IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 714 
Expressing support to end commercial whaling in all of its forms and to 
strengthen measures to conserve whale populations. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 28, 2012 
Mr. BERMAN (for himself and Mr. KEATING) submitted the following resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in ad-
dition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support to end commercial whaling in all of its 
forms and to strengthen measures to conserve whale 
populations. 
Whereas 89 countries have adopted the International Conven-
tion for the Regulation of Whaling (Convention), signed 
in Washington, DC, on December 2, 1946, which estab-
lished the International Whaling Commission (Commis-
sion) to provide for the conservation of whale popu-
lations; 
Whereas the Commission adopted a moratorium on commer-
cial whaling that went into effect in 1986 to conserve and 
promote the recovery of whale populations, many of 
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•HRES 714 IH 
which had been hunted to near extinction by the whaling 
industry; 
Whereas the United States was instrumental in the adoption 
of the moratorium and led the international effort to ad-
dress the threat posed by commercial whaling for more 
than three decades; 
Whereas three countries, though Parties to the Convention, 
have killed over 30,000 whales since the moratorium en-
tered into force; 
Whereas the moratorium on commercial whaling includes a 
scientific research exemption that has been exploited to 
allow whaling on a commercial scale; 
Whereas cetacean scientists around the world have consist-
ently concluded that whaling conducted for scientific re-
search purposes is unnecessary as non-lethal research al-
ternatives exist; 
Whereas commercial whaling in any form, including special 
permit whaling and any coastal or community-based 
whaling, undermines the conservation mandate of the 
Convention; 
Whereas all coastal whaling is commercial, unless conducted 
under the aboriginal subsistence exemption to the mora-
torium on commercial whaling; 
Whereas the Conservation Committee of the Commission, 
which was established in 2003, has focused on threats to 
the world’s whales, such as ship collisions, incidental cap-
ture and entanglement, and the effects of sounds caused 
by humans; 
Whereas whales migrate throughout the world’s oceans, inter-
national cooperation is required to successfully conserve 
and protect them; and 
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Whereas the United States should continue to be a global 
leader in whale conservation and protection and promote 
international efforts to conserve and protect the world’s 
whales: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) strongly opposes commercial whaling and 
supports use of all appropriate measures to end 
commercial whaling in any form, including for pur-
poses of scientific research; 
(2) seeks to strengthen conservation and man-
agement measures to facilitate the conservation of 
whale species and populations, including support for 
the establishment of the South Atlantic Ocean whale 
sanctuary; 
(3) urges the President and the international 
community to modernize the International Whaling 
Commission, consistent with other international con-
servation organizations, by expanding the participa-
tion of civil society, improving transparency, and 
supporting efforts to improve its effectiveness; and 
(4) supports ongoing research efforts to under-
stand, prevent, or mitigate threats to whales and 
their habitat, such as ocean noise, marine debris, 
ship strikes, entanglements, contaminants, and dis-
ease. 
Æ 
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