The 62nd annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) ended in failure after delegations have not reached a common ground on a compromise proposal to lift the ban on commercial whaling.

"The commission completed its discussions...without reaching consensus resolution of its main differences," a press release by the commission said after the five-day meeting concluded on Friday in Morocco's Atlantic Ocean resort of Agadir.

However, the release said, the commission said there was " increased understanding of the different views held and an improved atmosphere of trust."

The commission "agreed to a pause in its work on this topic to allow time for reflection until the 2011 annual meeting," the release said.

At least 600 delegates from 80 countries have involved in a showdown between pro- and anti-whaling nations. The IWC compromise proposal was to allow Japan, Norway and Iceland to continue commercial whaling for another decade, despite a global ban.

Yet, negotiations fell apart on the compromise proposal despite an unprecedented decision by the IWC to hold the discussions behind closed doors, shutting out civil society and media personnel.

The commission said between 4,000 and 18,000 whales could be saved over the next 10 years under the compromise proposal, which sets lower catch limits for all three whaling nations than the self-imposed quotas they have now.

Under the proposal, there would be rigorous monitoring of whaling, and no other countries in the 88-nation commission would be allowed to start whaling operations during the 10-year plan.