 Current whaling nations are Norway , Iceland , and Japan , despite their joining to the IWC , as well as the aboriginal communities of Siberia , Alaska , and northern Canada . Subsistence hunters typically use whale products for themselves and depend on them for survival . National and international authorities have given special treatment to aboriginal hunters since their methods of hunting are seen as less destructive and wasteful . This distinction is being questioned as these aboriginal groups are using more modern weaponry and mechanized transport to hunt with , and are selling whale products in the marketplace . Some anthropologists argue that the term " subsistence " should also apply to these cash @-@ based exchanges as long as they take place within local production and consumption . In 1946 , the IWC placed a moratorium , limiting the annual whale catch . Since then , yearly profits for these " subsistence " hunters have been close to US $ 31 million ( UK £ 20m ) per year . 
