The Future of International Marine Mammal Law

Abstract

What we have noted throughout this book are two essential facets that characterise international marine mammal law: first, it is extremely scattered; second, its controversial, adversarial nature. With Japan leaving the International Whaling Commission, a new era of whaling regulation has begun. Whether this will send ripple effects through the legal landscape of marine mammal conservation efforts remains to be seen. However, what it does show is that Japan—and possibly others—do not consider the IWC a legitimate organisation anymore to represent the interests of all its members. But where does this lead? In this chapter, I try to sketch a few scenarios which might be a possibility in light of the current developments in international marine mammal law. I am drawing from the existing literature and from the foregoing chapters. My own view on different scenarios based on the above will inevitably flow into this chapter. However, you may disagree with my assessment and I strongly encourage you to develop and communicate your own ideas as regards the future of international marine mammal law.