While, in the past, the IWC has looked at whales simply as resources to be used, the mammals are now seen as something along the lines of "ecosystem engineers", moving deep sea nutrients into the sunlight where their faecal plumes fertilise the waters and help the productivity of ecosystems.

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Alexia Wellbelove, senior program manager at Humane Society International in Australia, welcomed the moves, saying: "Whales use sound to help them navigate the vast oceans, but human-caused noise pollution can interfere with their ability to sense their environment and communicate with each other over vast distances.

"This acoustic fog can have serious detrimental impacts on cetaceans, while other forms of noise pollution from industrial or military activity can even cause physical harm.

"Seeing these cetacean conservation measures pass at the IWC is a bittersweet experience. It is thrilling to see the IWC play such a globally important role in protecting cetaceans in their marine environment and recognising the vital and unique role these ocean giants play in keeping our seas healthy.

"Yet all the while there are moves at the IWC by Japan and others to kill these very same whales for profit."

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Rebecca Regnery, senior director of wildlife at Humane Society International, said the bycatch mitigation initiative was of special importance to whale conservation and health.

"Each year around the world, hundreds of thousands of whales, dolphins and porpoises are accidentally caught and drowned in fishing nets, causing immense suffering and threatening several species with extinction.

"The IWC is forging a pathway for countries and international partners to find solutions to this global problem."

On Tuesday, a bid to create a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic - backed among others by Australia, New Zealand and the hosts - did not receive enough support to pass.