The proposed South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary (SAWS) could have finally become a reality this year, if it weren’t for certain nations that insist upon killing these highly intelligent marine mammals.

The proposal, which was discussed at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Slovenia, would have seen the creation of a vast sanctuary between South America and Africa, starting at the equator and extending south to 40° S latitude. SAWS would have become the third designated by the IWC, including the Southern Ocean and the Indian Ocean Sanctuaries, and would have explicitly prohibited the killing of whales for any reason.

First proposed by Brazil in 1998, and last voted on in 2012, the sanctuary was again defeated after 38 countries voted yes, 24 against, and two abstained. Proposals at the conference require 75% of votes to pass. The opposition included countries such as Japan, which continues to hunt in the existing Southern Ocean Sanctuary under the guise of scientific whaling, as well as other nations like Norway and Iceland that continue commercial whaling in other places.

SAWS has become a highly politicized issue and the IWC is becoming increasingly split between those countries that want to see whales protected and those that argue there is scientific evidence to allow for yearly killing of some species.

The ultimate pressure will be financial; many of the countries supporting this sanctuary, such as Argentina, Brazil, Gabon, South Africa and Uruguay are realizing significant profits from whale watching endeavors. Increasing demand for living, healthy whales and decreasing demand for slaughtered whales is what will stop whaling for good.