THE Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs has set a quota of 1052 animals for the minke whale hunt in 2006.
A unanimous Storting (the Norwegian Parliament) has asked the Government to increase the quota for the minke whale hunt. Thus, the increase of about 250 animals from this year to 2006 is a follow-up of this request, says the Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs Helga Pedersen.
Helga Pedersen emphasises that the quota for 2006 is a step on the road towards an ecosystem-based regulation of the whale hunt.
She says the model used for calculating quotas is conservative. According to scientists, the quota is within the interval that gives adequate safety regarding the conservation of the minke whale stocks that are targeted.
The quota for 2006 is composed of a basic annual quota of 745 and the addition of unused quotas in 2004 and 2005.
The basis for the quota in the Jan Mayen area is the total IWC regulatory area around the island. In 2006 the whalers will be allowed to take the minke whale quota in a larger part of the Jan Mayen area than they have been allowed so far.
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