Whaling is illegal in most countries, however Iceland, Norway, and Japan still actively engage in whaling . Over a thousand whales are killed each year for their meat and body parts to be sold for commercial gain. Their oil, blubber, and cartilage are used in pharmaceuticals and health supplements.

Why should whaling be stopped?

Whaling could have more impact on populations than sheer numbers. A pod of beaked whales rest in the warm waters of the equator. 4) Whales are necessary for healthy oceans, mixing, distributing nutrients and helping deal with the impacts of climate change. 5) Whales are full of persistent toxins, like mercury and PCBs.

Has whaling been stopped?

Despite an international ban on commercial whaling, whales are still being killed across the world's oceans. Many species were devastated by centuries of hunting, and the international community agreed to bring whales back from the brink of extinction by outlawing commercial whale hunts in 1986.