The International Whaling Commission's 56th annual meeting in Sorrento, Italy, was one of the most divisive in recent memory, marked by bitter battles between pro- and anti-whaling nations. It was also marked by the release of a new study, sponsored in part by The HSUS, that refutes Japan's argument that whales compete with human beings for fish, a misconception the island nation has used to call for lifting the worldwide moratorium on commercial whaling. Other developments included a resolution declaring current methods of whaling inhumane, and a close call for whales as the commission opted, on the last day, to drop a fast-track proposal that could have led to a limited resumption of commercial whaling.

To read about the 2004 IWC meeting, click the links below.