A woman's corset made with whale bone.
The initial decline of whale populations was brought about by commercial whaling—hunting whales to make a profit from selling whale parts. Whale hunting, which started in the 1700s, was a very big business until about 60 years ago. Whales were hunted so that people could use the blubber (whale fat) for oil in lamps and to make candles and soap. The plates from baleen whales were used for making women’s clothing, umbrellas, fishing rods and other things. Sperm whales were hunted because of the large quantity of sperm oil in their heads, which was sold for making candles, make-up and other things.
Sperm Whale
Unregulated whaling continued for centuries and over the years the industry was strengthened with new technologies. Technology allowed whalers to hunt faster whales and to conduct their hunts throughout the world’s oceans. New technologies and the high demand for whale products decreased many whale populations. Some populations became so small that whalers realized some sort of resource management was needed. The result was the formation of The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling in 1946. Canada was one of many countries to sign the agreement. The original purpose of the Convention was to have rules to help conserve whale populations so that the whaling industry could continue.
Definition:
A convention is an agreement made by a group of people to behave in a certain way.
Despite the international ban, or moratorium, on commercial whaling, many whale populations have not recovered and are still endangered due to other threats including entanglements with fishing gear, degradation of habitat and collisions with ships.
Fast Fact :
The North Atlantic right whale is the most
endangered large whale in the world, with
fewer than 350 surviving today. The right
whale got its name because it was considered
the “right” whale to catch due to
its slow speed and its tendency to stay close
to the surface.
