Considering there were over 50 countries present at IWC65, each with strong opinions on whaling and whale conservation, I think the meeting was very constructive and cordial. While there were some setbacks for the whale conservationists, overall it was a net positive for the whales, in my opinion.
One of the last decisions made during the meeting was the adoption of the Resolution on Civil Society Participation and Transparency at the IWC. This is a big win for NGOs, because now NGOs will be allowed to have more access to meetings and documents, and maybe most importantly, NGOs can speak on agenda items during the meetings. This passed by consensus.
As much work is being conducted during the intercessional period, I have a feeling the next meeting in 2016 will be even more fruitful.
Below is the Resolution adopted during IWC65: