How many whales were killed in Antarctic whaling operations?

In the history of Antarctic whaling, it is estimated that approximately 1.4 million whales were killed.1

This massive scale of human predation was driven by technological advancements in the 20th century, such as the development of steam-powered whale catchers, explosive harpoons, and large-scale floating factory ships. These innovations allowed commercial operations to target fast-swimming rorquals—including blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales, and sei whales—which were previously too difficult to catch.12

The industry operated with little effective restraint for decades, leading to the rapid depletion of one whale population after another as companies moved to smaller species once larger ones became scarce. While the International Whaling Commission was established in 1946 to manage stocks, early regulatory efforts were hampered by optimistic catch quotas and the prioritization of commercial interests over conservation. It was not until the 1980s that a moratorium on commercial whaling was successfully implemented to protect remaining populations.1234