<i>'In this impressively informative book, Gillespie attempts to lead the reader through a brief history of commercial whaling, the creation and development of the key international bodies addressing whaling, and the ethical and political dilemmas that make this topic both so revealing and so important to the development of international law. The quest is epic and auspicious. Against the odds, Gillespie manages to capture the substance and the essence of the debate, along with the full attention of the reader . . . As the title promises, Gillespie provides a detailed, carefully documented account of whaling diplomacy. In the process of contributing to our understanding of the legal regime on whaling, however, he also draws our attention to the relationship between whaling law and international environmental law and the importance of viewing international environmental issues within a broader political, legal and ethical context. In all of these ways, the book adds to our understanding of the complexity of developing, implementing and maintaining effective international environmental laws in an ever-changing political and natural environment.'</i>

- Cinnamon Pinon Carlarne, International Journal of Maritime History,

<i>'This work is well written, authoritatively argued, masterfully thought out, and extensively documented with references from primary sources. . . . Clearly, this volume will be welcomed as an indispensable intellectual resource by laymen, scholars and policymakers alike who are seriously interested in the need for new attitudes dedicated to marshalling diplomatic initiatives for implementing and enforcing effective conservation policies.'</i>

- Christopher C. Joyner, The Law and Politics Book Review,

<i>'The International Whaling Commission has complex history and deals with fascinating issues in respect of which attitudes have changed markedly since the organisation was founded in 1946. Al Gillespie has been through all the records and knows the story well; even better he knows in practical terms how it works since he has been a distinguished member of the New Zealand delegation to the Commission for years. There can be few who know more about this controversial international body. The book demonstrates excellent research on many fronts and is full of valuable insights on a topic that will only become more important over time.'</i>

- Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and current Commissioner for New Zealand to the International Whaling Commission,