The United States opposes commercial whaling, allowing whaling only for traditional purposes, largely by Alaskan Natives.

In response, Sea Shepherd stated that they also oppose whaling in the Faroe Islands, sealing in Canada, etc.

Chile opposes the creation of a sanctuary which would include any of its territorial waters, though President Eduardo Frei opposes commercial whaling.

He has emphasized that while he opposes commercial whaling, he is not against traditional whale-hunting among aboriginal societies.

The United States, which opposes commercial whaling, called the meeting a success.

Some polls show that sympathy for whales is increasing and that most Japanese now oppose commercial whaling.

In addition, the commission's original mission, to set quotas for whaling, is out of sync with the desires of the majority of its members, which now oppose whaling on ethical grounds.

Norwegian whalers are preparing to export hundreds of tons of edible minke whale blubber to Japan in the face of widespread condemnation by nations that oppose whaling.

In a news interview, Lucas stated that this was for purely economic reasons, claiming polls show that 70% of Japanese oppose whaling.

Although the United States and many other nations oppose commercial whaling, that stance now seems to be wavering among many nations.