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| Twice as many to be targeted.© istockphoto |
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by Natalie Ragan
As Iceland’s conservative government collapsed this week after a major financial meltdown, the departing authorities showed their contempt for whales by drastically increasing the quotas for minke and fin whales. Only seven endangered fin whales have been killed by Icelandic whalers over their past three whaling seasons, but the new quotas will allow the annual killing of 100 minke whales, twice the previous quota for minkes, and 150 endangered fin whales. These quotas, unless annulled by the new incoming government, will hold for the next five years.
A History of Indecision
Iceland resumed commercial whaling in 2006 after a long hiatus and is one of three countries in breach of the ban on commercial whaling enacted by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1986. In August 2007, Iceland announced that it was ending its commercial hunt—only to do an about-face in May 2008 when officials announced that whaling would resume once again. Now, Iceland is angering people internationally with its new intentions to increase the numbers of whales killed annually.
Reactions to the Announcement
Fisheries Minister Einar Gudfinnsson’s announcement of the new quotas is being looked at as an act of sabotage against the incoming Icelandic administration. The Icelandic Travel Industry Association (SAF) is condemning the decision and saying it will tarnish Iceland’s image and make it harder to recover from the negative image that their financial hardships have created. The new administration will be able to overturn this decision, but potential leaders have cautioned that the issue will fall into a pool among other issues that will need their attention.
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A Stain on the EU
New reports show that Iceland is now on the fast track to join the European Union (EU) in light of the severe financial troubles it is facing. Iceland is depending on its acceptance to the EU to help fix their financial burdens and it could be a member by 2011 if all goes as planned. None of the 27 members of the EU are whaling nations, and having a whaling nation such as Iceland join would go against their common position. If Iceland remains a whaling nation upon its admittance, this would tarnish the entire image of the EU.
| Update |
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On February 18, 2009, Iceland's interim government announced that they would keep the designated whaling quota for this year. It is uncertain whether whaling will be allowed to continue beyond 2009. In light of this announcement, HSI and other concerned organizations sent letters regarding Iceland's raised quota to stores in the United Kingdom which carry Icelandic fish products. UK retailer Marks and Spencer is the latest to speak out, stating that they will be sending a letter to the Icelandic government expressing their clear stance against whaling. |
An Eco-Friendly Alternative
SAF claims that whaling is even ruining Iceland’s whale watching industry because hardly any minke whales can be seen anymore from whale watching boats. Whale watching is a lucrative industry that Iceland cannot afford to ignore. Roughly 30 percent of all visitors to Iceland go whale watching and in 2002 the whale watching industry brought in $US 14 million dollars, whereas whaling brought in a mere $3.5 million.
Cruel and Unnecessary
With new word of raised quotas and no end to whaling for at least five years, Iceland is showing blatant disregard for whale populations facing numerous threats and choosing to turn a blind eye to the inevitable cruelty that whales are forced to endure at the hands—and harpoons—of whalers. Commercial whaling is an unnecessary and outdated practice which Iceland can surely do without.
