Commercial whaling declined dramatically following a 1986 moratorium, but several nations continue to kill whales. The welfare dimensions are severe, while cultural and political complexities require careful navigation.
Whales are highly intelligent, socially complex animals with long lifespans and strong family bonds. The welfare impacts of whaling include the significant pain and distress of the killing process, disruption of social groups, and population-level trauma. There is no humane method of killing whales at sea. The conservation and welfare case against commercial whaling is strong, while indigenous subsistence whaling involves different ethical considerations requiring separate analysis.