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IN what could become a major fishing controversy, two whaling boats have left Reykjavik in Iceland for the start of the new fin whaling season.
Iceland´s quota for the season is 150 fin-whales, plus a left-over of 25 whales from the previous season.These will be processed at the Hvalfjord whaling station in south west Iceland.
Iceland's main whaler is businessman Kristjan Loftsson who has four ships that are hunting fin whales and it can be a profitable business even though most countries do not entertain whale meat. Last week the annual international talks on whaling – the International Whaling Commission – collapsed without agreement.
Iceland and Norway continue to be the only European or Nordic two countries that officially authorise commercial whaling, and Japan issues scientific permits to its whalers.
Whales - even though they are mammals - remain an integral part of the Norwegian and Icelandic fishing culture which is why they have ignored worldwide demands to call a halt. Environmental groups have called on the public to boycott ordinary seafood from these two countries in protest, but so far it has fallen on deaf ears.The fishing companies there remain nervous, but there is little sign that they have much to fear.
Commercial whaling was banned under a 1986 moratorium but Japan, Norway and Iceland have been pushing for a formal end to the moratorium, saying stocks of some species have recovered sufficiently for careful capture. . Countries including the United States, members of the European Union, Australia and New Zealand oppose the hunts.The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says 31,984 whales have been killed by whaling between 1986 and 2008.
Should fisheries be closed during breeding time to allow stocks to reach more sustainable levels?
