This was condemned by the British Government as it was claimed the whale stocks they come from are on an international endangered species list.

The Bowhead whale stock from which the Alaskans take their quota is now estimated to be 10,500 with a growth rate of more than 3%.

Competition between nations led to over-exploitation of whale stocks (and armed naval conflict in 1613, 1618, 1626, 1634, and 1638).

Japan maintains that annual whaling is sustainable and necessary for scientific study and management of whale stocks.

As technology increased and demand for the resources remained, catches far exceeded the sustainable limit for whale stocks.

In the late 1930s, more than 50,000 whales were killed annually and by the middle of the century whale stocks were not being replenished.

As technology increased and demand for the seemingly vast resources remained high, catches far exceeded the carrying capacity of whale stocks.

By the middle of the 20th century, whale stocks could not recover.

This moratorium was successful, and permits whale stocks to recover.

Blues and bow- heads are gone forever, but other whale stocks seem to be recovering at last.