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Consequences of Iceland's Whaling
Iceland's return to commercial whaling in May 2008 presents an imminent threat to minke whales and with them, entire marine ecosystems. The ocean floor is a nutritional desert. Many animal species rely on whale carcasses to feed. Research by Craig Smith, a marine biologist at the University of Hawaii, has shown that deep-sea extinctions may have already occurred in the North Atlantic where populations of 13 species of whales were greatly diminished by commercial whaling in the 1800s. Whaling continued into the 1970s in the Southern Ocean, and extinctions there may still be occurring.
Iceland's commercial hunts are conducted without any transparency or measures to ensure that quotas are not exceeded. This lack of management and disregard for whale conservation can open the door to pirate whaling.
After Iceland's 20-year hiatus from commercial whaling, and the temporary end to its hunt in August 2007, its resumption is a devastating step backwards.
Iceland's Future is in Whale-Watching, Not Whaling
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Update |
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For the first time since the early 1990s, Iceland (and Norway) exported whale meat to Japan in May 2008. However, in mid-June, the meat was still stuck in storage without an import license. |
With a failing market for whale meat, and as home to an increasing
whale-watching industry, Iceland's interests would be better served by preserving whales.
During the summer months, Icelandic waters are among the best in the world for whale-watching, with approximately 15 species of cetaceans swimming in the area. In 2002, 30 percent of visitors to Iceland went whale watching, contributing approximately US$14 million. In comparison, whaling contributed a maximum of US$3.5 million in 1989.
Icelandic tourism companies have publicly opposed their country's resumption of commercial whaling, citing concerns that it would impact the burgeoning whale-watching industry.
The friendly whales who approach the boats on whale-watching trips are likely to be the first killed by whalers because they are the easiest targets.
Despite attempts by the Icelandic government to promote the consumption of whale meat, the domestic market is extremely small. Additionally, trade in whale products is restricted under the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In 2003, the former Prime Minister of Iceland stated that a precondition to commercial whaling was that it must be able to export the products, and Iceland would look to Japan as its market. Japan, historically Iceland's primary market for whale products, recently stated that it was not interested in importing Iceland's
whale products. However, in June 2008, Iceland ignored the CITES restriction against trading whale products and exported 80 tons of fin whale meat to Japan. The meat was from whales caught in 2006 which reportedly could not sell domestically so it either rotted or sat frozen until a buyer could be found.
Timeline
Iceland, a principal whaling nation, has killed at least 35,296 whales since 1883. The following timeline charts Iceland's consistent disregard for whale conservation efforts.
1986
- Ban on Commercial Whaling: After decades of commercial whaling, whale populations crashed, and the International Whaling Commission, the international body governing commercial whaling and providing for the conservation of whale populations, implemented a ban on all commercial whaling. Iceland did not object to this ban, thereby becoming bound by it. In addition to the country's long history of commercial whaling and suspect scientific whaling.
- Converts Commercial Whaling Industry to "Scientific" Whaling: Before the commercial ban went into effect, Iceland proposed a program that would allow it to continue whaling through a "scientific" loophole in the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. Immediately after the ban went into effect, Iceland converted its commercial industry to this so-called "scientific" whaling program.
1989
- Iceland Stops Scientific Whaling: Global condemnation leads Iceland to end its scientific whaling program
1992
- Iceland Leaves the IWC: Frustration over the Commission's efforts to protect whale populations prompts Iceland to leave the commission.
2002
- Iceland Illegally Rejoins the IWC: By leaving the IWC, Iceland was cut off from Japan, its primary market for whale products and a member of the IWC. After two failed attempts, Iceland illegally rejoined the IWC in 2002 with a reservation (objection) to the commercial whaling moratorium. The objection exempted Iceland from the whaling ban.
- Iceland Restarts "Scientific" Whaling: When Iceland rejoined the IWC in 2002, it stated that it would begin "scientific" whaling immediately and would not hunt whales commercially until 2006. The IWC condemned Iceland's scientific whaling program, and asked Iceland to abandon its plans to start whaling. In complete disregard of the request, Iceland began hunting minke whales the next year through the "scientific" loophole in the Convention.
2003
- Iceland opposed the establishment of a conservation committee in the IWC.
2006
- Iceland Supports the St. Kitts and Nevis Declaration (which attacked the moratorium on commercial whaling and non-governmental whale protection efforts).
- Iceland Defies CITES by stating an intent to export one to two tons of whale meat to the Faroe Islands in September 2006, a move similar to an illegal export of whale meat from Norway to the Faroe Islands.
- Iceland Starts Commercial Whaling: On Oct. 17, 2006, the Icelandic Fisheries Ministry announced that it would resume commercial whale hunts. Iceland plans on killing 30 minke and nine fin whales by September 2007, while continuing to hunt whales through its "scientific" research program.
2007
- Iceland Ends Commercial Whaling: In August 2007, Iceland announced it would end its commercial whale hunt, giving low market demand and lack of access to the Japanese market for whale meat as reasons for the decision.
2008
- In May 2008, Iceland resumed commercial whaling, its fisheries minister commenting to Bloomberg News that whale hunting is part of the culture and that minke sashimi is a popular dish.
- In May 2008, for the first time since the early 1990s, both Iceland and Norway exported whale meat to Japan.
- In June 2008, Iceland exported 80 tons of fin whale meat to Japan despite the trade in whale products being restricted under CITES.
Updated June 16, 2008
