The International Whaling Commission (IWC) ended its annual meeting, on Friday June 25thin Agadir, without achieving a compromise between the whale hunt advocates and opponents, though it was agreed to continue dialogue with a view of bridging the gap between the two sides.

The five-day meeting focused notably on lifting the moratorium ban on commercial whaling that has come into effect since 1986, controlling whale hunt in addition to hunting in the Antarctic sanctuaries.

Although it failed to reach a compromise, the meeting of Agadir was described by several participating delegations as a “success” and a “historical turning point”, as the organization remained committed to its mission despite the fundamental disagreements between its members.

By hosting such a large-scale event, Morocco reinforces its multilateral cooperation and positions itself as a key player in the international maritime and fisheries scene.

The meeting brought together 600 delegates from some 80 countries, in addition to Ministers, scientists, experts and NGO’s representatives.

The IWC was set up in 1946 to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry.