Short Season Ends for Iceland Whaling – What Happens Next?

By Mark J. Palmer

According to media reports, Iceland’s very short whaling season (limited to three weeks in September due to government concerns about animal welfare laws being violated by the whaling company), has now ended, with 24 endangered fin whales being killed.

However, activists photographing the whaling factory documented a whale fetus being torn from her mother, so the number is certainly 25 whales, and perhaps more.

For details of the recent history of Iceland’s whaling, see our earlier blogs:

You Can Help End Icelandic Whaling

Iceland’s Government Pauses Whaling Season Until August 31^st

Iceland Returns to Whaling Amid Protests

Iceland’s annual quota for fin whales is 161 whales. The truncated season saved the lives of many whales, but still 24+ fin whales lost their lives. The meat will be exported to Japan, as the people of Iceland eat little whale meat.

Fisheries Minister Svandis Svavarsdottir has strongly questioned the whaling activities, noting the whaling violates Icelandic humane laws and hurts other Icelandic economic interests, such as tourism. The permits for whaling expire this year, and it is not clear yet whether Minister Svavarsdottir will issue a new 5-year block of permits or will opt to end whaling altogether.

The Icelandic singer Bjork led a demonstration in the nation’s capital Reykjavik, telling the whales in an online posting: “I’m so sorry.”

While there is growing opposition to whaling in Iceland, the politically powerful fishing industry and other interests are pushing for continued whaling.

IMMP has joined forces with our friends at the Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS), OceanCare, and LegaSeas to mount a special appeal from the public to the government of Iceland, encouraging them to put an end to Iceland’s whaling industry.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Sign the petition to Ms. Svandís Svavarsdóttir, the Icelandic Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.

Urge her to end Iceland’s commercial whaling industry, for the good of whales and for the oceans. Iceland does not need the whale meat, and killing whales deprives the ocean of the ecological benefits of whales, including sequestering carbon and circulating nutrients for the health of the ocean ecosystem.

Minister Svavarsdóttir has indicated skepticism about continued Icelandic whaling. Help encourage her to protect the fin whale!

Thanks for your help.

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Fin whales are the second largest whale on Earth, but they are slowly recovering from the savage whaling era in the 20^th century. With your support, IMMP and our allies are urging the Ministry of Fisheries to end Iceland’s whaling permanently. Please donate to help end the suffering of fin whales in the North Atlantic. Thank you for your support.