2 28 The continuity between the ICRW and the objective of the
preceding instruments is clear from the ICRW Preamble Contrary to
Australia’s claims that “[t]he preamble to the ICRW evidences a significant
change from the philosophy of the 1931 Convention and the 1937
Agreement”171, the object and purpose of the ICRW remained to be the
conservation of whale stocks as a means of maintaining the whaling industry
While “[r]ecognizing the interest of the nations of the world in safeguarding
for future generations the great natural resources represented by the whale
stocks”172, and considering the need to “protect all species of whales from
further over-fishing”173, the Preamble to the ICRW states the desire of the
Contracting Governments to “establish a system of international regulation
for the whale fisheries to ensure proper and effective conservation and
development of whale stocks on the basis of the principles embodied” 174 in
the previous agreements and protocols