Iceland breaks 21-year-old commercial whaling ban

by drew Sunday, October 22nd, 2006

Article Summary:

An Icelandic whalers’ spokesman has announced the killing of a fin whale, effectively ending a 21 year ban on commercial whaling by the International Whaling Commission. The fin whale, listed as endangered by the World Conservation Union, was killed on October 21st and will be landed in Iceland soon.

The Iceland Fisheries Ministry also announced new plans to take 9 fin whales and 30 minke whales annually, adding that these numbers were sustainable with present whale population. Japan intends to start hunting humpbacks next year. The International Fund for Animal Welfare’s (IFAW) Gallup poll showed the vast majority of Icelanders don’t eat whale meat. There is also a glut of whale meat in the market from previous “scientific research” hunts.

Help stop the wasteful killing and show your opposition to whaling by supporting Greenpeace’s efforts or write to the .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

On whaling in Iceland. I saw in your artical that you belive that the fin whales are endangered. Which they are in southern part of the globe but not in norhtern Atlantic oceans. There the fin whale is numbering 35.000 but the World Conservation Union consider them the same stock off whales as those living on the southern globe even though these stocks have no contection. I guess people should then stop fishing cod in the pasific ocean because off overfishing in the atlantic ocean. I my opinion people should stick with sientific facts and not there emtional feeling on whaling. Sincerly Sigurdur
Posted by siggi on 2006-11-01 16:48:22