Commercial whaling refers to the hunting of whales for profit, primarily for their meat, blubber, and other products. This practice has a long history, but it became widespread in the 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to significant declines in whale populations. Many species were driven to near extinction due to overhunting. In response to the declining whale numbers, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was established in 1946 to regulate whaling and protect whale populations. Today, commercial whaling is banned in many countries, although some nations, like Japan and Norway, continue to hunt whales under specific exemptions or objections to the ban.