* IWC has only released figures for species that have been assessed in detail and is unable to provide reliable current estimates. Source: IWC. Reuters/Herald graphic

* IWC has only released figures for species that have been assessed in detail and is unable to provide reliable current estimates. Source: IWC. Reuters/Herald graphic

Conservation Minister Chris Carter wants a shake-up of the International Whaling Commission to give it teeth.

"I do feel the IWC needs a major overhaul. It's rules haven't been changed in 57 years, basically," said Mr Carter.

He told National Radio: "At the moment we have no disputes resolution process, no penalties for countries that break the rules."

His comments follow the passing by 30 votes to 27 of an Australian resolution at the IWC meeting in South Korea calling on Japan to withdraw its "research" whaling plan.

Anti-whaling nations said the plan should be withdrawn unless the new research can be done without killing the marine mammals. The resolution also called for a review of the results of the present research programme.

But Japan intends to defy the vote and push ahead with increased "scientific" whaling.

It plans to boost its annual take of minke whales from 440 to as many as 935 next year and kill as many as 50 humpback and 50 fin whales after a two-year feasibility study.

Australian Environment Minister Ian Campbell said Japan should respect the research whaling decision and withdraw its plan.

And echoing the view of Mr Carter, Mr Campbell said the IWC had a dangerous impact on governance in the Pacific and other developing nations, and there was a mood for significant reform among conservationist nations.

The performance at the IWC meeting of the Solomons Islands underlined the argument of Mr Campbell.

The Solomons voted with Japan on a key measure resoundingly rejecting a proposal to end the nearly two-decade ban on commercial whaling but abstained on the vote on scientific whaling.

However, Solomons Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza said the delegation had not obeyed his direction to either abstain or vote with Australia and New Zealand.

"The position here at home stayed the same. I don't know what happened," he told National Radio.

Sir Allan said the vote undermined him and the delegation would face the consequences.

Mr Carter said the delegation's actions were unhelpful but other countries had voted to support Japan.

"It's disappointing that Tuvalu, Palau, Kiribati voted with the Japanese. The Solomons - after a lot of to-ing and fro-ing - finally abstained."