Pro-whaling nations have used their numbers to block a 28-year push to set up a massive whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic at the International Whaling Commission meeting in Hobart.

Yet, the 70th meeting of the commission adopted several new resolutions that animal welfare groups have applauded as major advancements in the protection of whales and other sea animals.

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) was set up 80 years ago, initially to regulate whaling, and 40 years ago, a moratorium on commercial whaling started.

Norway, Iceland and Japan continue to whale, despite the ban. 

South Atlantic whale sanctuary defeated again

At the Hobart meeting, Brazil put forward a resolution to establish a new whale protection zone in the South Atlantic that would stretch 21 million square kilometres from the equator to Antarctica, setting up a continuous, permanent haven from commercial whaling across whales' entire feeding, breeding and migratory life cycles.

A major change to the whaling convention of that nature requires three-quarters of attending members to vote in favour.

Thirty-nine countries voted for the whale sanctuary, 18 nations against and three abstained, meaning it failed.

The Brazilian delegate told the summit his country would submit the whale sanctuary plan at every IWC plenary session for a vote, until it was approved.

The audience applauded that statement, but other pro-whaling nations objected.

The Antigua and Barbuda (Barbados) representative said: "We think it is time for the proponent of this scheduled amendment to seriously consider its permanent withdrawal until we can assess issues in paragraph 10e."

"10e" is the whaling convention amendment detailing the 1986 global moratorium on commercial whaling.

Commission agrees on 80-year declaration

The summit voted in favour of a so-called "Hobart Declaration" marking 80 years of the whaling convention and the recovery of some populations due to the 40-year ban on commercial whaling, while noting new non-whaling threats, including ship strikes, noise pollution and net entanglement.

Matt Collis, from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), said the declaration had symbolic importance.

"It was passed by consensus, which is some achievement in the International Whaling Commission considering the divergent views here," he said.

Mr Collis has been in Hobart observing the talks.

He said the moratorium transformed the IWC from an "old whalers' club" to the whale conservation body it was today.

"It's occupied a lot of time and energy this week to essentially say 'happy birthday to the commission', when the real anniversary we should be celebrating is the 40th anniversary of the global whaling moratorium and the extraordinary effect that has had in helping whale populations recover," Mr Collis said.

The commission is chaired by respected Australian Antarctic scientist, Nick Gales.

"It's not just about saying 'happy birthday'. It's about showing the IWC can provide a statement of who we are as an organisation, what our differences are, and give some vision to what we agree to pursue in the future," Dr Gales said.

"It's really carefully drafted to avoid giving policy advantage to either side, nor cancelling the gains made in the past by either side of the debate.

"It is a really important declaration. It is the first time the IWC has been able to reach across the policy divide and make a common, single-voice declaration, so it is really quite an important thing in my view."

Taking action on emerging threats

The meeting has endorsed motions to strengthen action on ship strikes, monitor and report collisions with whales, recommend safer ship routes in high-risk areas, recommend lower vessel speeds and greater collaboration between shipping companies and maritime agencies.

Government representatives also supported a resolution targeting the international fish maw trade, which is a cause of bycatch of whales and dolphins. Maw is fish bladder, which is highly sought after by some countries.