Soviet whaling : past history and present impacts

This dissertation focuses on the illegal whaling conducted by the USSR during the years 1948-79. Whaling industry reports and interviews with scientists and whalers are used to reconstruct the history and operational details of this industry, and to describe how the often unsustainable illegal catches were driven by the USSR’s economic planning system. I establish true catch totals for all species taken by Soviet whaling in the North Pacific, and assess the impact of these catches on selected populations. Finally, I examine the USSR’s domestic and international stance, notably with regard to the nation’s role at the International Whaling Commission.