Whaling History of South Africa

1700's - British and American whalers are operating in southern African waters. Right whales already have their reputation for being the "right whales" to kill - they are slow moving and will float when dead.

1792 - The first southern right whales are taken by Cape colonists in Table Bay. By 1805, 12 000 southern right whales have been killed between Walvis Bay and Maputo.

1808 - The expansion of shore based whaling operations in St. Helena Bay, Simonstown, Kalk Bay, Gordons Bay, Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay. The primary target is the southern right whale.

1830 - The decline in the industry is already apparent - southern right populations are dramatically reduced - and the shore based industry struggles on till the end of the century with humpback whales now supplementing the catch.

1878 - The advent of modern whaling techniques - introducing steam powered catcher ships, bow mounted cannon and explosive harpoon heads.

1908 - The South African Whaling Company is established in Durban.

1912 - The 1st Norwegian, steam powered, whale catcher ship arrives in Plettenberg Bay on Boxing day. She is called The Plettenberg.

1913 - Over 10 000 whales are taken from Southern African waters this year and the population of humpback whales is diminishing rapidly.

1914 - Blue whale, fin whale and sperm whale now dominate the catch.

1920 - Southern right whale stocks at an all-time low. Perhaps as few as 300 in total.

1924 - Factory ships are now larger, better equipped and fitted with stern chutes to load whales. Range is extended to Antarctic waters. Shore based processing factories are now almost obsolete.

1929 - False Bay sees the last attempt in South African waters to take a southern right whale from an open boat using a hand-held harpoon.

1930s - There are some attempts to regulate the industry - these are mostly unsuccessful. Southern right whales are now so uneconomical they are afforded some protection.

1939-45 - There is some relaxation on international whaling - while humans focus on killing each other instead.

1946 - The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is established to try sustain and manage stocks - with little initial success - the smaller species are now being targeted to meet quotas.

1950s - Hunting and striking ability is increased beyond the ability to process whale carcasses.

1960's - First fin whale and then sei whale stocks are reduced dramatically. Large numbers of sperm whale are still caught periodically.

1968 - The minke whale - smallest of all the baleen whales - is now targeted to meet quotas.

1973 - The whaling industry in South Africa is no longer viable and 37 countries sign a moratorium not to hunt whales.

1979 - The South African Government places a total ban on all whaling activities along her coast and the IWC declares the Indian Ocean (North of 55 degrees south) a sanctuary.

2003 - Since 1986 over 23 000 whales have been hunted and killed - and those are only the ones we know about.