Japanese whaling ships have departed for the Antarctic hunt, resuming the programme after a year, despite international opposition. Japan says its whaling programme is for scientific research - one of the exceptions in which whaling is allowed under international rules. But in 2014 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said its Antarctic hunt was not scientific and should cease. Read more
South Korea may reconsider scientific whaling plans
South Korea has said it may reverse a controversial plan to resume whaling for "scientific research" if other options to study the mammals were available. Read more
Shipping lanes into and out of the Panama Canal are likely to be constrained in order to protect whales. Humpback whales breed around Las Perlas archipelago 60km from the canal's southern entrance, and are disturbed and even killed by shipping. Read more
The most common question I get asked after International Whaling Commission (IWC) meetings is simple: "What did it do for whales?" Often, the answer has been: "very little". But at this year's meeting in Panama City, things were a little different. Read more
Indigenous whaling bids granted after 'racism' claim
Whaling quotas for indigenous groups in Alaska, Russia and the Caribbean were renewed at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) annual meeting. The vote came despite questions over whether the bid from St Vincent and the Grenadines qualified under IWC rules. Read more
Whaling talks focus on 'too commercial' Arctic claims
The annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has opened with the focus on hunting by indigenous groups mainly in the Arctic. The five-yearly quotas awarded to Inuit and other peoples are due for renewal, with Greenland asking for an increase. Animal welfare groups charge that much of the meat is sold commercially, and that whales take too long to die. Governments have reportedly agreed not to repeat last year's walkout, and votes are due on several issues. Read more